Who Is Eligible for Social Security Income?
If your disability is permanent and prevents you from returning to work, you may be able to receive Social Security income in the form of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies most initial applications. If you have been denied, or if you are considering filing an initial SSDI or SSI application, you may wonder: am I entitled to Social Security income?
There is no hard and fast rule to determine who is eligible for Social Security income. Generally, individuals must have a disability — or a combination of impairments — that substantially limits their ability to work. This disability must be terminal or last more than one year. At Wood and Carlton, our Memphis, Tennessee, Social Security attorneys are available to discuss your SSDI/SSI claim and help you show the Social Security Administration why you qualify. We represent clients in west Tennessee and north Mississippi.
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Whether you qualify for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income depends on your employment status. If you have worked five out of the last ten years, you may bring a claim for SSDI. The amount of Social Security income you receive will depend on what you paid into Social Security. If you do not qualify for SSDI, you may qualify for SSI, depending on your income level.
Social Security Listing of Impairments
The SSA will evaluate your disability on a number of levels. In some cases, they will look at a combination of impairments and determine whether those impairments meet the requirements for SSDI or SSI. Social Security examiners use a listing of impairments to help them make these decisions.
The Social Security listing of impairments includes the following classifications for individuals over the age of 18 and certain children:
- Musculoskeletal system impairments, such as amputation, disorders of the spine, serious fractures and some soft tissue injuries
- Special senses and speech impairments, such as statutory blindness, loss of speech and hearing loss
- Respiratory system impairments, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic restrictive ventilatory disease and cystic fibrosis
- Cardiovascular system impairments, such as chronic heart failure, ischemic heart disease, recurrent arrhythmias and peripheral arterial disease
- Digestive system impairments, such as gastrointestinal hemorrhaging requiring blood transfusion, chronic liver disease and inflammatory bowel disease
- Genitourinary impairments, such as impairment of renal function and nephrotic syndrome
- Hematological disorders, such as chronic anemia, sickle cell disease and hemophilia
- Skin disorders, such as bullous disease, ichthyosis, and chronic infections of the skin or mucous membranes
- Endocrine system impairments, such as thyroid disorders, hyperparathyroidism and diabetes mellitus
- Impairments that affect multiple body systems, such as non-mosaic down syndrome
- Neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, parkinsonian syndrome and cerebral palsy
- Mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, autism, affective disorders and substance addiction disorders
- Malignant neoplastic diseases, such as cancer, sarcoma, lymphoma and leukemia
- Immune system disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, immune deficiency disorders and HIV
The above list of examples does not include all disorders considered by the SSA. Furthermore, just because your disorder is on the list of impairments does not mean that you qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits. Your impairment must be severe enough to prevent you from working for at least one year. An experienced Social Security attorney can help you determine whether you are eligible for Social Security income.
Contact a Memphis, Tennessee, Social Security Lawyer
Our law firm can support clients throughout the SSDI/SSI process, including helping clients file an initial application and representing clients during the Social Security hearings and appeals process.
For more information about your case, contact a Memphis Social Security attorney at Wood and Carlton.