West Virginia residents who want to apply for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration should understand the requirements for doing so. One way to do this is to look at the process used by the Social Security Administration to determine applicants’ eligibility when they apply for Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Prospective applicants should examine the application process, what to do if an application is denied, the criteria used to determine eligibility and what parts of their work and medical treatment records are scrutinized.
Another way people can address the issue of determining requirements for applying for disability benefits is to consider their insured status and if they will be able to qualify to apply for disability benefits according to SSI or SSDI program rules. They should also consider if they are eligible to apply according to the rules of both programs if they qualify.
In order to apply for disability benefits from the SSA, applicants have to be insured for Social Security benefits based on their work history and either have to have been unable to engage in gainful work activity for the last year, or expect to not to be able to worker for the next year due to their medical condition. To determine if they are insured, applicants can contact the SSA to see if for which disability program they are able to file a claim.
An attorney who practices Social Security Disability law may assist clients with determining if they are eligible to apply for disability benefits. The attorney might guide clients through the application process, instructing them on what documents should be submitted with the claim. Legal counsel may be provided for people whose claim has been denied and who want to appeal the decision.