If you were injured in Florida, you may find yourself out of work. Unfortunately, Florida is one of the few states that does not provide short-term disability benefits for those who are unable to work because of a medical condition. The only other options for you to be compensated is if you have disability insurance through your employer or by qualifying for the Social Security Administration disability benefit programs.
Qualifying for Social Security Disability is not an easy task, though, and there are many factors that go into whether you will qualify. Here is a breakdown of how you might qualify.
Who Qualifies for Social Security Disability Benefits?
The Social Security Administration provides two disability benefits programs – Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income. SSDI is for people who have a work history with employers who paid taxes to the Social Security Administration, while SSI is for people who do not and also have low income and assets.
The qualifications for both programs are the same. First, you must be unable to work for at least a year due to your injuries. Any time period less than that will be denied. Second, you must have a disability in certain categories, and your Residual Functional Capacity – basically an assessment of what you’re capable of doing and what you’re limited in doing – must fall in the SSA’s guidelines.
What Injuries Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits?
The SSA has an impairment listing manual called the Blue Book, which the Division of Disability Determinations uses to make decisions on cases. Automatic qualifies include:
- Back injuries
- Heart failure or coronary artery disease
- COPD or asthma
- Immune system disorders
- Liver disease or IBD
- Cancer
There are other diseases and impairments listed in the Blue Book that will automatically qualify you for SSDI or SSI if your RFC fall within the agency’s guidelines.
What if My Injury Doesn’t Match a Blue Book Listing?
Just because your injury isn’t specifically listed in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book doesn’t mean you won’t quality for SSDI or SSI. Your qualification for one of the programs is based off whether you have a medically determinable impairment that causes you to not be able to do your previous job or any job at all to its full capacity. The Social Security Administration will do a comprehensive review of your information and medical records to make the final determination of whether you quality for Social Security Disability benefits.
An Experienced Lawyer Can Help Guide You Through Social Security Disability
Dealing with the Social Security Administration is not a simple thing to do. If you have suffered an injury in Florida that forces you to be out of work for more than a year, contact the dedicated and experienced attorneys at Fetterman & Associates for a free consultation at 561-845-2510.
Additional Reading:
4 Reasons Why You Should Appeal Your Social Security and Disability Denial
Common Myths and Misconceptions Regarding Social Security Disability