9 Clear Signs You’ll Be Approved For SSDI Benefits

 With almost 70% of disability claims being rejected each year, submitting a disability claim can be a stressful experience. The SSA has strict standards regarding disability payments, and even rock-solid cases can fail simply by missing a few key details. Although there is no guarantee that your claim will be initially accepted, there are a few steps you can take to improve your chances.

9 Signs You’ll Be Approved For SSDI

While the outcome varies from case to case, your possibilities are much higher if you closely fit the SSA’s criteria for long-term disability payments. Here are five signs that your claim has a higher chance of being accepted:

You Have Enough Medical Evidence To Support Your Claim

The most successful claims provide relevant medical evidence that you can’t work because of your disability. According to the SSA, this proof must be objective and from a “professional medical source” to be eligible. The medical documentation you provide helps the SSA determine your medical condition and how it’s preventing you from working. If you don’t have any evidence, your initial application has a higher chance of rejection.   

You’ll Be On Disability For 12 Months Or Longer

SSDI benefits are available to those who know they will be disabled for 12 months or longer. Benefits are only granted after a waiting period because the SSA wants to be sure that your condition is long-term. If you prove that you have a medical condition requiring prolonged medical treatment, you’ll have a higher chance of your claim moving forward.

You Can’t Work At All Due To Your Disability

When you apply for benefits, the assumption is that you’re entirely unable to work because of your medical condition. The SSA will measure your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC), or the maximum you can still do despite your health condition. If your doctor determines that your RFC is too low to perform any work, your claim will likely be approved. 

Your Illness Is In The SSA’s Blue Book Listing

The Blue Book is a general reference to medical conditions severe enough to qualify for disability payments. Each impairment listing contains specific guidelines based on the type of disorder, injury, or other symptoms related to your diagnosis. The closer your symptoms match a blue book category, the easier it will be for the SSA to determine whether you qualify for benefits.

You Have Enough Work Credits

Another main factor in getting your application approved is meeting the minimum number of work credits to qualify for disability. Every year, you can receive up to four Social Security or Medicare work credits for every $1,510 in covered earnings. When you meet the minimum work credits based on your age and years of work, you’ll be eligible for SSDI.

You Work a Job That’s Physically Demanding 

One of the strongest signs that you will be approved for disability when you apply for benefits is the nature of your work. Generally, the more physically demanding your job is (or was), the more likely it is that you will be approved for SSDI benefits. This is because individuals with physical injuries or illnesses are less likely to be able to perform physically taxing work. The SSA evaluates claimants’ RFC, or the ability to perform specific work-related functions, such as sitting, standing, lifting, walking, bending, and reaching. Workers in physically intensive fields, such as construction, are much less likely to be able to do those things. 

Keep in mind, however, that even if you can’t perform the most physically demanding tasks, the SSA might still find that you can do less physically demanding jobs, such as clerical, janitorial, hospitality, or foodservice work. But, as we’ll explain below, the SSA also considers the transferability of a claimant’s skills. So if your skills are not transferable to less demanding work, you may still qualify for benefits. 

You Don’t Have a High Level of Education 

When the SSA reviews claims, it considers whether a claimant who is unable to perform their former job can nonetheless perform other types of work. The SSA classifies individuals according to their skill level: 

• Unskilled work: Involves basic duties that do not require much judgment and little on-the-job training. Examples include entry-level manufacturing, food preparation, parking lot attendants, and delivery drivers. 
• Semi-skilled work: Involves work that requires some skills but does not require more complex work duties. Such jobs might involve paying close attention to processes, inspecting things, tending to machines, or guarding against loss. 
• Skilled work: Involves work that requires qualifications and the exercise of judgment. This category could include estimating quantities, determining the suitability of materials, reading specifications, and dealing with abstract ideas. 
• Skills that can be used in other work (transferability): Refers to skills learned in skilled or semi-skilled work that the claimant can apply to other skilled or semi-skilled work. The degree to which skills are transferable depends on the similarity of the work duties among the different jobs. 

Generally, the less formal education or training you have, the more likely it is that you will be engaged in unskilled or semi-skilled work (although this is not a hard and fast rule). And as we covered above, unskilled and semi-skilled work is more likely to require more physically demanding tasks than skilled work. As such, not having an advanced level of education is one of the signs your disability claim will be approved. 

You’re Over the Age of 50 

Regardless of your level of education and your ability to perform physically demanding tasks, it’s a sad fact that individuals over the age of 50 face much greater challenges in finding and adapting to different kinds of work than younger people. The SSA defines individuals between the ages of 50 and 54 as “closely approaching advanced age” and those aged 55 and older as “advanced age.”

The SSA understands that people in this age group have more difficulties in adapting to changed work landscapes, so it weighs that factor heavily in making its determination, even for individuals who are in otherwise good health. For example, the SSA might find that someone of advanced age is eligible to collect disability benefits even if they’re able to perform sedentary, unskilled work. Thus, being aged 50 or older is a strong sign that you will be approved for disability.   

You’ve Followed Your Doctors’ Orders

The purpose of SSDI benefits is to provide a safety net for individuals whose physical condition prevents them from working, with the ultimate goal being that they will eventually improve enough to be able to return to some form of work. Accordingly, strict adherence to prescribed medical treatment is essential.

The SSA looks favorably on individuals who can show that they have followed their doctors’ orders and are actively working toward medical improvement. The persistence of your ailment — even when you can show that you’ve been diligent in your medical treatment — is strong evidence that your condition is severe and long-term, which is a sign that your disability claim will be approved. On the other hand, noncompliance with medical treatment can muddy the waters and make it more difficult for the SSA to conclude that you cannot return to work, and in certain instances, may even be considered evidence of SSDI fraud.

Our Lawyers Can Help You Win Your Disability Claim

Getting approved for SSDI requires a lot of effort to submit a successful application. Despite the SSA’s strict requirements, personalizing your case and gathering detailed evidence can increase the chances of your claim being successful.

Our team of social security disability attorneys have over 25 years of experience navigating SSA bureaucracy and will guide you through the application process from start to finish. Please fill out our contact form on our website, or call us at 877-693-2529 if you have any questions or want to schedule a free consultation today. We serve Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and more.