You qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you suffer from a medical condition that prevents you from gainful employment for at least 12 months.
If the medical condition does not last that long, such as an injury for example, then you will not qualify. So, you will need to have the appropriate paperwork complete with the reasons why your medical condition prevents you from gainful employment for at least one year ready to go.
How It Works
You send in your application to the Social Security Administration, who then sends it to the Disability Determination Services (DDS), a state agency located in Arizona. The DDS examiner will look at your claim, request the appropriate medical records for review, and decide if what you have qualifies for benefits. The examiner is aided by the listing of impairments by the Social Security Administration which provides some guidance.
If your disability falls within the listing of impairments, then in all likelihood you will receive the benefits. While not 100%, in almost all cases if your disability is found on the list, then it means you suffer from a condition that lasts longer than 12 months, prevents you from being gainfully employed, and is expected to be permanent or perhaps even be the cause of death.
What is a Medical Vocation Allowance?
This is used by DDS when it approves a disability claim that is not found in the Listing of Impairments. This is when the examiner determines that even though your condition is not listed, it is severe enough to meet the qualifications that prevent you from gainful employment. A Medical Voucher Allowance is what you are provided when your claim is approved.
What Happens If I’m Denied?
You shouldn’t give up if you have been denied. While the success rate is only 30%, repeated claims will help increase your chances. So, if you have been denied, the first step is determining why it happened. You may find that it was a small error or otherwise correctable mistake that prevented your claim from being fully reviewed.
In any event, you should not give up if you are suffering from a medical condition that prevents you from working to support yourself. What is important is that you should seek out the proper guidance to help increase your chances of success. Getting knowledgeable, experienced help has proven to be the difference for thousands of people when applying for disability benefits. This is especially true if you suffer from a condition that is found on the Listing of Impairments.
If you are out of work because of your disability, have been denied disability benefits, or simply have questions about how the process works, you should get in touch with Disability Help Group of Arizona. We serve the greater Phoenix area, along with Maricopa County and all of Arizona. You can call them at (888) 939-4692 or go through their website. We are here to answer your questions, explain our services, and represent your case if needed.