What requirements must I meet to be eligible for Social Security Disability?

There are certain requirements a person must meet in order to be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.

1. The individual must have worked and paid Social Security taxes in the past (See “Social Security Credits” below).
2. The disability must prevent the applicant from returning to her job and from performing other work as a result of a medical condition.
3. The medical condition must result in either a disability that lasts greater than one year, or in death.

To ensure that an individual has a long-term disability, Social Security Disability benefits are not available until a person has been disabled for five full calendar months. These benefits are not available to those suffering from partial or short-term disabilities.

This often creates a serious problem for car accident victims with auto negligence cases. Read on for information on what happens if you are approved for SSD benefits.

To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, an individual must also have a minimum number of “credits.” Credits are calculated based on how long a person works and how much he pays in Social Security taxes.

The amount of income required to earn a credit varies from year to year. For example, in 2007, $1,000 in covered earnings was equivalent to one credit. A maximum of four credits may be earned annually.

The Social Security Administration has produced a list of medical conditions which, if diagnosed by a medical provider, will automatically disable someone from receiving disability benefits. This list, Disability Evaluation Under Social Security, is from the Social Security Administration website.

If a person suffers from a condition that is not listed, she must be able to show that she’s unable to return to any type of work as a result of her disability.

If you were injured in a car accident in Michigan and you need help collecting Social Security Disability benefits, call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation an experienced car accident lawyer. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.

Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in auto accidents.

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More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle accidents than any other lawyer or law firm in Michigan. We’ve also recovered the highest ever reported truck accident and car accident settlement in the state.

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