| Social Security Administration's Definition of Disability | | | | 1. You must be unable to perform the type of work |
| The Social Security Administration has some | | | | you did for the past 15 years for a year or longer |
| qualifications to be considered a disability. To be | | | | 2. You must be unable to perform any other type of |
| defined as a disability, two conditions must be met: | | | | work for which you are qualified |
| 1. The person is unable to do the work for which the | | | | Other work for which you are qualified refers to work |
| disabled person is suited making at least $900 gross | | | | to which you could reasonably transfer your skills and |
| income per month (known as a Substantial Gainful | | | | is based upon your age, education, work experience, |
| Activity or SGA) | | | | and any mental and/or physical limitations that you |
| 2. The condition has lasted continuously or is expected | | | | may have. |
| to last continuously for at least one year or will | | | | Time and Age Limits |
| probably result in death. | | | | There is no set length of time you can accrue benefits. |
| Disabilities that meet these two requirements can be | | | | As long as you meet the requirements of having a |
| either mental or physical in nature or a combination of | | | | disability, you will receive Social Security Disability |
| both types. The particular disability doesn't matter as | | | | benefits. |
| long as the two requirements are met. | | | | There is no set age limit to receiving benefits. Once |
| Social Security defines disability for these purposes to | | | | you reach age 65, however, your benefits will |
| be a total disability, not a partial disability. The person | | | | automatically convert into retirement benefits. |
| applying for benefits must be considered completely | | | | Earliest Time You May File a Claim |
| disabled. | | | | You must be disabled for five months prior to filing a |
| How is Ability to Do Work for Which You are Suited | | | | claim. This is because benefits don't accrue until six |
| Determined? | | | | months after the date of onset of your disability. The |
| In order to determine if you are unable to work, the | | | | date of onset is the date when you were first unable |
| Social Security Administration looks at two things: | | | | to perform your work. |