Eligibility for SSDI and SSI Benefits in Memphis

The Social Security Administration looks for answers to certain important questions when determining who is eligible for SSDI. These include:

• Are you working? If you have worked in the calendar year and have averaged more than $1,010 per month, you usually will not be considered disabled.
• Is your condition severe? The SSA notes that your condition must interfere with basic work-related activities.
• Is your condition found on the list of disabling conditions? The SSA uses a computer screening process to identify cases with a high probability to allowance to expedite the receipt of benefits. They publish a list of medical conditions considered so severe that they merit automatic approval for SSDI. If your condition is not on the list, you still may be considered but you must prove that it provides similar restrictions to those included on the list. Some exceptions to the general rule are people who are blind or have low vision, are a worker's widow or widower, have a disabled child, or are a wounded warrior.
• Can you do the work you did previously? If your condition is legitimate but not quite as severe as those on the list of disabling conditions, the SSA must deem that it interferes with your ability to do the work you previously did.
• Can you do any other type of work? If you cannot fulfill your previous job requirements, the SSA will see if you can adjust to a new kind of employment. The SSA considers medical conditions, age, education, past work experience, and any transferable skills you may have.

In addition to fulfilling the requirements to be considered "disabled," individuals also must have worked long enough and recently enough to qualify for disability benefits. These work requirements can be found in detail on our SSDI work requirements page.

Sometimes individuals have conditions that almost always qualify them for disability benefits, but other times it is much more difficult to fulfill the Social Security Disability requirements.

If you or a loved one has experienced a disability and is seeking to apply for SSDI, a skilled attorney can be an invaluable resource. The SSDI lawyers at Morgan & Morgan's Memphis office have a proven track record of successfully preparing the disabled of Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi for their disability claims. For a consultation from an attorney, fill out our free case review form.