When a New Jersey resident seeks Social Security disability benefits because of an injury, illness or condition, there might be certain misconceptions about several issues. Basic factors are eligibility and how much disability pays a person who is found to be disabled. While these might see as if they are secondary concerns when the person has reached the point where their issues are preventing them from working and they need the help that disability provides, it remains imperative to think about these issues as the process moves forward.
When seeking disability benefits, it is important to remember that the Social Security Administration requires that an applicant meets the definition of disability. This means that the person cannot work because of a severe medical issue that has lasted for a minimum of 12 months or is expected to end in the person’s death. It must also be of sufficient severity that the person is unable to do work he or she could do previously.
There must also be an inability to adapt to another kind of work. Since it is difficult to be approved for benefits, those who are approved are considered the most seriously impaired in the nation. Statistically, those who get SSD benefits have three times a chance of dying as those who are in the same age group. One of five men and one of seven women who get disability at 55-years-old will die within five years of when their disabilities came about.
SSD benefits pay just shy of $1,200 in 2018. This is not a significant amount, but it can help with basics. In 2017, it was just slightly higher than what is considered the national poverty level. These factors must be considered when seeking SSD benefits. For those who have questions and concerns about their attempt at being approved for SSD benefits and whether they meet the requirements, a law firm that has extensive experience in Social Security disability benefits can help.