Having some type of disability in the United States could be the key to getting a Social Security benefit. Not everyone with a disability can get some type of benefit from SSA. There are a number of requirements that must be met in order to receive a Social Security benefit. Not everyone can access these types of benefits. In this sense, it is important to be clear about the criteria in order to know whether or not we will be able to count on this income in the future.
It is important to note that the criteria are very strict, as well as the need for official medical documents. Without official reports you cannot access this type of financial benefit. In addition to all this, you also have to consider that there is disability and incapacity. This time we are talking about disability, so do not confuse the terms, as they are totally different. Social Security for disability is not the same.
Social Security disability criteria
These criteria are very marked and Social Security is very strict about it. Also, without official documents there is no way to prove these situations, so you will need them if you want to apply for this benefit. The disability pension is available to:
- People who are unable to work because of a medical condition that will last at least one year or result in death.
- People who do not have a partial or short-term disability.
- People with disabilities who meet the SSA definition of disability.
- People younger than full retirement age (FRA).
If you meet one of these requirements you can apply for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Showing the documents should be sufficient. In cases where the disability is temporary, you will have a medical follow-up to verify that the condition is really stretching that long.
Ask for a SSA office appoinment
To really know all the documents you will need to apply for Social Security the best option is to ask for an appointment for the Social Security Administration office. You can do this by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Another option is to do it all online with the web page created for this purpose. You can also request an appointment through this government website, as well as consult everything you need to know about Social Security. Once we have the appointment we can ask for the necessary documents, all the processes and if we are eligible for the disability benefit.