Chicago Permanent Disability Attorneys
Illinois SSI SSDI benefits
In order to be eligible for either Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income benefits, an individual must have a total disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not award benefits to individuals with a partial disability or a short term disability. The skilled Chicago social security disability attorneys at Ankin Law have considerable experience helping individuals with a permanent disability apply for social security disability benefits.
How Does the SSA Determine If A Disability Is A Permanent Disability?
The SSA uses a step-by-step analysis to determine whether an applicant has a qualifying disability. First, the SSA determines whether the applicant is working. If the applicant is not working or is earning less than $1,000 per month on average, the SSA will consider whether or not the medical condition interferes with basic work-related activities. If the condition does interfere with work-related activities, the SSA will consider the condition itself.
The SSA maintains a list of medical conditions that are so severe that they automatically qualify as a disability. Even if an applicant’s condition is not on this list, the SSA will assess whether the condition is so severe that it qualifies as a disability. The SSA uses two programs to assess disabilities more efficiently:
- Compassionate Allowances allows certain conditions, such as acute leukemia, Lou Gehrig’s disease and pancreatic cancer, to qualify as a disability as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed; and
- Quick Disability Determinations uses a computer screening program to identify cases that are more likely to qualify as a disability.
The SSA will also consider whether the condition interferes with work that the applicant previously performed or any other type of work in making its determination of whether the applicant’s medical condition is a disability that qualifies for social security benefits.
Contact the Experienced Permanent Disability Lawyers
The skilled Chicago social security disability attorneys at Ankin Law have years of experience helping clients with permanent disabilities apply for and obtain social security disability benefits. We understand the importance of submitting the appropriate medical information with your application in order to help the SSA confirm that your medical condition is a qualifying disability. Contact one of our trusted Chicago social security disability attorneys to schedule a free consultation to discuss your permanent disability.
