Guidelines To Disability

If people are filing for disability benefits then they should follow some proper guidelines. Whether people are applying for Social Security Disability or the Supplemental Security Income Program, the description of disability under the Social Security Administration is the same. To be regarded as a disabled person an individual must be unable to perform any type of activity because of a mental or physical handicap that has lasted or will last at least 12 months continuously or such condition will end in the person dying.

If people earned more than $900 in a month during the last year, Social Security Administration or SSA will consider that they were gainfully employed and will likely considered them as not being disabled. The SSA considers their physical or mental condition not to be a disability if it is not severe enough to interfere with the basic job performance. They have a list of conditions at the Social Security Administration or SSA that is used when someone is filing for disability benefits. If the condition of a person is proven to be as severe as those listed with SSA, he or she can be determined as disabled. If their condition is the same as one that is listed this does not necessarily mean that their condition is severe enough to be counted as disabled.

It is also up to Social Security to determine whether their condition is severe enough to keep them from performing their previous jobs. If so, they will not be eligible to draw Social Security benefits. Affidavits from a former supervisor, friends, co-worker, and family members who can contribute to showing the limitations they have encountered at work and at home because of the severity of their condition will be helpful. People should make the affidavit short. It should not be over tow pages long so as not to bombard the Social Security Administration or SSA with even more paperwork to read. It must be typed on regular sized typing paper. It should be signed in front of a notary public and stamped by the same, which proves the authenticity of the affidavit.

If people are providing an affidavit when filing for disability benefits, they should make sure it is persuasive and concludes the person who is making the statements occupation, title, and address. How the people are acquainted with the claimant, how long and in what capacity they know the claimant. The affidavit should include how often there is contact between the claimant and person giving the statement, whether person or in phone contact, and should discuss what level of work the claimant was able to perform prior to illness.

The claimant who is filing for disability benefits should also have a statement of specific treatments, limitations, unsuccessful treatments, and a statement as to what extent they are unable to perform activities of daily living or ADL. If supervisors or co-workers are giving statements they have to state why the person is limited in working any occupation, and the person giving the statement should be willing to speak with a judge concerning their statement. If some body is filing for disability benefits he or she could have a long road ahead of him or her, and should not stop fighting if they believe they are truly disabled and are being denied benefits.

• John Palsson
• 08/12/2008, 6:59 AM
• 0 Comments