Life can be dangerous and people can get hurt. No matter if people are at work, at home, traveling or simply out having fun, an accident can happen at any moment. In these accidents people can suffer serious injuries that affect their day-to-day lives. These injuries can take weeks, months, or years to heal. They can make everyday activities difficult.
Depending on the physical injury, people may be unable to work. As a result, medical bills and other expenses can begin to pile up. People may want to turn to social safety net programs like workers’ compensation or Social Security Disability Insurance in order to make up for their lost income. However, with every accident people need to qualify for the programs. For SSDI, for example, an injury must be so severe that a person has become disabled. But, at what point do these injuries qualify as a disability for SSDI purposes?
According to the Social Security Administration, the definition of disability for SSDI is strict. It does not include partial disability or any disability that is temporary in nature. Instead, in order to qualify for SSDI a person must suffer from total disability.
The SSA has three criteria for total disability. First, you must not be able to work in your old job. This means that your injury has made it impossible for you to perform your old work. Second, the SSA must determine that you are unable to work in any field. This means that the SSA believes you cannot adjust your work because of your injuries or illness and take on a different job. Finally, the disability must result in your death or be expected to last at least one full year.
Whether you are suffering from a disability or not is just one of the requirements necessary to qualify for SSDI. An attorney can help people determine if they qualify for SSDI benefits after an injury. This post should not be seen as legal advice but as only informational.