Will Past Employment Be Considered for a Social Security Disability Case?
Q: Does the work history of a person affect the determination of a social security disability claim?
A: Past employment is important to your disability case. Social security disability benefits are awarded not simply based on an injury, but also on the employment activities a person could be engaged in with the injury. The case manager is interested in your work history to determine if you are able to still perform jobs you have had before. Social Security also looks at your previous employment to determine if you might be able to do another kind of job. A social security disability claims examiner uses standard medical vocational principles when evaluating an application. The age of an applicant, academic history and limitations caused by the medical condition are all factored in. This grid helps them decide if a person is capable of doing any of his previous employment or other employment. The medical vocational grid still leaves a lot of room for error. The limitations of a condition and the need for social security disability insurance are very difficult to fit into a simple set of guidelines. The claims manager will still need to use some common sense and subjectivity to determine if a person can perform work. Your work history is a significant factor to your case.
Q: Are SSDI and SSI the same thing?
A: Both SSI and SSDI are disability programs offered by Social Security, but they are not the same thing. To be eligible for SSDI, or Social Security Disability Insurance, an applicant must have been in the workforce long enough to have accrued enough work credits for benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is awarded based on financial need. An applicant for SSI need not have been in the workforce for a certain amount of time to be eligible for benefits.
Q: What is the average wait for an initial claim to be processed?
A: For applications that are complete and filed appropriately, the usual turnaround time for the initial review process is 3 or 4 months. The most common reason an application is delayed is due to a wait for medical records. To lessen the likelihood that your case will take longer than the average, make sure the examiner handling your application has all the necessary items to review your case. If you receive notification that your social security disability claim was not approved after the initial review process, you will probably wish to have it reconsidered and (if necessary) heard before an administrative judge. Reconsideration and an appeal for hearing will, of course, add time to your process. Many cases have been in the process for 2 years by the time they are heard.