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5 HARD FACTS ABOUT SSDI

Social Security Disability (SSDI) is a tough nut to crack.  Here are 5 things that you must know before you decide to file a disability claim:

1)  There is no disability benefit if you are working and earning at least $1,170 per month in 2017.  This is the amount they call "substantial gainful activity" or SGA.  Earning this much from a job or self-employment will get you a technical denial at Step 1. (This refers to earned wages or earnings, not non-earned income such as pensions, disability benefits, rental income or child support).

2)  Social Security or SSDI will not pay for the first 5 full calendar months of disability.  If you are found disabled on June 15, you can't be paid until December.  This is a best case scenario. A very small percentage of SSDI claims these days are approved in less than 18 months.  Some are but many are not.

3)  Being unable to perform your past job may not be enough to get SSDI benefits. Depending on your age, you may have to prove that you cannot perform ANY other work that exists in the national economy--and this includes sedentary, simple and unskilled work.  It may include minimum wage jobs and types of work that you have never considered doing.

4)  It is not enough to prove that you have certain medical conditions.  You will have to prove that these conditions are severe and cause you significant difficulty in functioning, so that you cannot work.  You must (repeat "must") have medical evidence to support these claims. They won't take your word.

5)  If you haven't worked in the last 5 years or so, you may not have enough work credits to be covered by Social Security disability.  Before you decide to file a claim, call your local Social Security office and see if you are still insured for SSDI benefits (called "Title II benefits").  Ask what is your "Date Last Insured" or DLI?  This is the date on which your insured status for SSDI will expire (or has already expired, perhaps).

Nobody can guarantee the outcome of a claim.  There is always a chance that you will never be approved for benefits because Social Security's burden of proof is so high.  If continuing to work a few more years is an option, you should not consider disability benefits.  However, if you are at the end of your ability to work and have no other alternative, file a claim now.  Waiting can be costly.

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