How do I know if I am eligible for Social Security disability benefits?


If you have worked long enough at a job that is covered under the Social Security Act, and become disabled, you are probably eligible for disability benefits.

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), a “Disability” can be physical, mental, or some combination of both. In order to win benefits, you must have a disability severe enough to prevent you from working in any regular paying job for at least 12 consecutive months.

The test for eligibility is not whether you can go back to a job you’ve lost or whether you’ve been able to find a job recently. The test is whether you are physically and mentally capable of doing a job that is generally available in the every day work place.

To obtain Social Security Disability benefits, a doctor must state that you are disabled “by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory findings”. Unfortunately, many disabling conditions are difficult to diagnose by objective testing. In cases like that, it’s up to your social security disability lawyer to present your doctor’s reports properly, and to convince the social security administration that you deserve your benefits.

<< Back To Frequently Asked Questions

Fields Law MN Disability Center

We are a Minnesota Disability Law Firm dedicated to helping people in Minnesota get the Social Security Disability benefits they deserve.

Minnesota Social Security Minnesota Social Security
How to Apply
Disability Eligibility
Disability Appeals
MN Disability Resource Centers
Free Case Consultation
Name:
Email:
Phone:
City:
Message:
Find Your Minnesota SSA Office
Article Categories
Minnesota Disability Help Blog
SSA Disability Forms
Disability Resources
Fields Law Firm attorneys can help with disability due to: degenerative disc disease, Lupus, crohn's disease or crohns, cerebral palsy, Multiple Sclerosis or MS, rheumatoid arthritis, diverticulitis, hearing impairment, deafness, back surgery, fibromyalgia, heart surgery, bi polar disorder, high blood pressure (hypertension), hip, neck, shoulder, ankle, wrist, back, or other joint problems, disc herniation, aneroxia nervosa, hydrocephalitis, interstitial cystitis, , spinal stenosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, rsi or repetitive stress injury, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, kidney disease, arthritis, dysthymia, depression or other mood disorders. Congestive or Chronic Heart Failure, Type 1 Seizure Disorder, Stroke, COPD, Auto immune system disease, Cancer, diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, down syndrome, emphysema, hearing loss or poor hearing, blindness, low vision, cataract, color blindness, Peripheral Field Problems or Other Vision Loss, Clinical Obesity or Morbidly Obese, Alzheimer’s disease, attention deficit, hyperactivity or ADHD, bipolar disorder or manic depression, panic disorder, schizophrenia, autism, head trauma or brain injury. Low IQ, mental retardation, learning disability, panic disorders, epilepsy, cancer, chronic fatigue, anxiety, inner ear problems, meniere's, vertigo or dizziness, kidney failure requiring dialysis or other renal problems, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C or other liver disease, pancreatitis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosissarcoidosis, peripheral vascular disease, lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, down syndrome, hiv, aids, anemia, sickle cell, thyroid problems including hypothyroidism, esrd or end stage renal disease, reflux, GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease), cfids, muscular dystrophy, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, or tachycardia, bradycardia or other arrhythmia, rsd, crps, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy.