How Does the SSA Define a Delaware Disability?

When you have a disability that is preventing you from earning a basic income and you need disability benefits now, knowing the way the Social Security Administration (SSA) defines a disability is essential. Otherwise, you may find yourself wasting valuable time on an application that will automatically be rejected. Not everyone realizes how strict these definitional standards are. Not only do you have to have a disability, but you also need to meet certain work requirements. Talk to a Delaware Disability Lawyer to learn more.

THE SSA DEFINITION OF A DELAWARE DISABILITY

The SSA has strict definitions for a reason, they must comb through thousands of disability applications each year and not everyone is sincere with their application. For the people who are, the most important thing to do is to understand the disability definition so that you can choose the right disability benefits program for your unique situation. Starting off, the SSA defines a Delaware disability as:

• A physical or mental impairment
• Significantly impairs your ability to work or make a basic income
• Your disability will last one year or lead to an early death

For children, this definition slightly varies. While adults are expected to work, children are expected to attend school to later acquire a job. Since children with disabilities cannot always do this, the SSA defines a disability for children as:

• A physical or mental limitation
• Significantly impairs a child’s ability to function in life
• The disability will last a year or lead to death

This may also mean your child’s ability to learn is significantly impaired, but depending on the disability, this may not always be the case. Some developmental disabilities like autism primarily affect communication. In either case, you can save yourself a ton of time by checking whether your disability or your child’s disability meets the medically determinable impairment definition for your Delaware disability application:

• The physical or mental disorder caused by psychological or physiological abnormalities
• Demonstrated by lab and other medical tests

WHAT IS DELAWARE SUBSTANTIAL GAINFUL ACTIVITY?

The other major portion of the SSA definition of a disability is substantial gainful activity (SGA). This describes any income you have received for current or past jobs. Your total work earnings will be looked at by the SSA to determine whether you meet a certain level of SGA.

If your SGA is above a certain level, then you may not be able to receive disability benefits since these benefits are reserved for people with significantly low incomes. In situations where your disability prevented you from showing whether you would meet that level of SGA, the SSA will try to figure out whether your situation counts as an unsuccessful work attempt.

DISABILITY ATTORNEY IN DELAWARE

Meeting the eligibility requirements for disability benefits can be an ordeal to go through alone. Consider seeking assistance from a Delaware Disability Attorney if you find yourself stuck during the application process. All you have to do is contact Edelstein Martin & Nelson today at (302) 295-5050 for a free consultation. Our legal team of Delaware disability lawyers can be found throughout Wilmington, Delaware and are prepared to help you find evidence for your disability claim.