You may know someone who is disabled or read about it in the news, but you probably do not think it could happen to you. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), around one in four adults will be disabled by the time they reach the age of 67. Becoming disabled can be an extremely scary experience, especially if you do not have a financial safety net to rely on. Fortunately, the SSA can provide individuals with that assurance. Each year, millions of disabled Americans apply for Social Security disability benefits, but only about one-third of all applications are approved. Each situation and application is different, but here are a few common reasons why your Social Security disability application may be denied:

You Do Not Meet Basic Eligibility Requirements

Social Security disability benefits are considered to be a public welfare program. This means that you must meet income requirements in order to be a recipient. Part of the definition of being disabled means your earnings are limited and generally not enough to support yourself. According to the SSA, if your earnings are more than $1,260 each month, you generally cannot be considered disabled.

Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) exists for the purpose of helping people who are unable to work, for whatever reason. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), around 35.2 percent of SSDI recipients in 2013 were eligible for benefits based on a mental health condition. Mental disorders are some of the most difficult and subjective conditions to prove and accept in order to begin receiving benefits. The symptoms and severity of mental disorders are not as obvious as physical disorders, which is why many SSDI applications claiming a mental disorder are denied the first time a person applies. If you are applying for SSDI benefits in Wisconsin, it is important to understand what constitutes a mental disorder.

Types of Qualifying Disorders

In addition to a slew of physical impairments, the Social Security Administration (SSA) also recognizes that certain mental disorders have the ability to prevent you from working. The 11 categories for qualifying mental disorders are:

Life is often unpredictable. Nobody thinks a life-altering injury will happen to them until it does. When you are injured or ill to the point where you can no longer work, it can put a huge financial strain on you and your family. Thankfully, Social Security disability benefits exist to help those who cannot work due to an illness or injury. Though many types of illnesses and injuries can make working difficult or impossible, the Social Security Act has very strict definitions of “disabled.” 

Social Security Disability Definition

The only way you can receive Social Security disability payments is if you are totally disabled. They do not pay for partial or temporary disability. According to the Social Security Act, you are only considered totally disabled if:

When you become injured or disabled and are unable to work, it can put tremendous stress on you and your family. Fortunately, the United States government has programs in place to help those who cannot work due to short- or long-term disability. 

One example is the Social Security disability insurance benefits program. This is designed to help individuals who previously worked but developed a medical condition or injury that limits their ability to work. You can apply for disability benefits to be paid to you and certain members of your family. Unfortunately, many people who submit Social Security benefit applications are unfairly denied. If you get a denial on your Social Security benefits claim, there are steps you can take, and with the help of a disability claims lawyer, there is a good chance you can get the decision reversed.

Employees who sustain an injury on the job are typically covered under the workers’ compensation system. Mostly, this is a positive thing; the employee’s medical expenses are covered and they may even be eligible to receive a portion of their regular wages from the employer’s insurance carrier. However, there are some potential disadvantages to accepting workers’ compensation. Learn how an experienced attorney can help you mitigate against them.

Overlooking Other Forms of Compensation

Perhaps the most frequently experienced disadvantage to accepting workers’ compensation is that employees often assume this is all they are entitled to receive. However, this may not be the case. Depending on the situation, injured workers may be eligible for compensation from a third-party, such as the owner of a facility, the manufacturer of defective equipment, or even a contracted company that was charged with overseeing the employee (i.e. construction foremen). If you have been injured on the job, go the extra mile; contact a seasoned attorney for an analysis of your case to determine if you may be eligible for other forms of compensation.