If you apply for Social Security disability benefits, it can often seem like an endless waiting game. You are likely nervous and anxious about whether or not your claim will be approved. If you have already hired a disability attorney, they can assist you with the process and offer legal advice about your chances of success.
There are also some indicators or signs your disability claim will be approved or that it will have a higher likelihood of being approved. Keep reading as we give you seven signs your disability claim will be approved.
7 Signs Your Disability Claim Will Be Approved
The Social Security Administration (SSA) closely examines each disability application to ensure it meets the requirements for disability benefits. Many applications are denied for several different reasons.
However, there are quite a few things that successful applications have in common. Here are the seven most common signs that your SSDI application will be approved.
1) You Meet The Non-Medical Criteria
In addition to providing sufficient medical evidence of your disability claim, you will also need to prove your non-medical eligibility for disability benefits. One of the biggest non-medical requirements for receiving Social Security disability benefits is having sufficient work credits.
To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must have enough work credits to be eligible for the program. For most people, this means that they must have worked full-time for at least five out of the last ten years.
Some special exceptions allow younger individuals an opportunity to qualify with fewer work credits, but this is a good general rule. Having the required work history is a great first step toward getting your initial application approved, and it can make the application process for Social Security benefits much smoother!
2) You Present Sufficient Medical Evidence
Presenting sufficient medical records that prove your disability is likely the biggest telltale sign that your disability claim will be approved. You must have a medical condition that prevents you from working, and many people fail to adequately prove their medical condition.
You may have a single impairment or multiple impairments, but you must present enough evidence to prove your claim for Social Security disability insurance benefits.
These medical records might consist of doctor’s visit records, test results, therapy notes, or other medical documentation. The records that you submit will need to be from medical professionals and not just your own testimony.
While your testimony is important, the medical records can often make or break your disability case. When it comes to medical evidence, the same general rules apply to both Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
If you have records that prove you are disabled, there is a good chance your claim will be approved.
3) You Earn Less Than The Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Amount
To qualify for disability, you must earn less than the substantial gainful activity amount. So, what is the income limit for SSDI in 2024. In 2024, this amount is $1,550 for non-blind applicants and $2,590 for blind applicants. If you are earning less than these amounts, it is a good sign that you cannot perform a substantial gainful activity due to your disability.
Earning less than this amount will not automatically qualify you for benefits, but earning more than this amount will disqualify your Social Security disability claim.
4) You Cannot Work for At Least 12 Months
Some claimants believe that they can receive disability payments just because they cannot work for a couple of months. However, that is not the case.
To qualify for benefits, you must have a disability that has either lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months. This helps to ensure that disability benefits are reserved for only the most severe cases.
So, if you have already missed 12 months of work because of your disability, that is a good sign that your case is likely to be approved. Similarly, if your doctor believes that your condition will last at least 12 months, you can go ahead and apply for benefits
5) You Meet A Blue Book Listing
SSA’s Blue Book can be an extremely useful tool for getting your disability claim approved. The Blue Book contains a listing of impairments that are considered to be automatic qualifiers for benefits.
The book contains both physical and mental disorders that will qualify you for disability. So, if you meet a Blue Book listing, that is an extremely good sign that your claim will be approved.
There is one small disclaimer: even if you have one of the impairments listed in the Blue Book, it does not always mean that your claim will be approved.
You might still need a disability lawyer to assist you with an appeal to get your application approved. However, if your lawyer determines that your condition meets a Blue Book listing, he or she has a great chance of getting your claim approved by an administrative law judge on appeal.
6) You Are Working With A Social Security Disability Attorney
Hiring a law firm to represent you during your disability claim can greatly increase your odds of approval. The Social Security disability process can be complex and confusing. Many people attempt to navigate the claims process on their own, and they often do not get the results they had hoped for.
Many disability benefit applications are denied because they are not completed properly or the claimant did not include the proper medical evidence. Hiring an attorney to represent you means that they will help you navigate the process and they can advise you at each step of the way.
People with a disability attorney have a much higher chance of success than those without one. So, if you are already working with a Social Security disability attorney, that is a good sign that your claim will ultimately be approved.
7) An Administrative Law Judge Approves Your Claim At The Hearing
If you go through the appeals process, you will likely appear in front of an administrative law judge to hear your case. After you present your case to the judge, he or she will usually not comment on it until the official ruling is issued.
However, there are some instances when the judge will go ahead and let you know at the hearing that your claim will be approved. If the judge tells you that your claim will be approved, that is one of the best signs that you won your SSDI hearing!
While this doesn’t happen frequently, it sometimes happens and is a sure sign that you will be approved for disability.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- There are certain signs that your disability claim will be approved, however, they do not guarantee that you will be approved.
- The easiest way to check the status of your SSDI application is by signing up for a my Social Security account and logging into your account to see the status updates.
- If your initial SSDI application is denied; don’t panic, you will have the opportunity to appeal the decision and there is still a high likelyhood you could be approved.
Appealing A Social Security Disability Decision
So, what happens if your initial application for disability benefits is denied? You have a right to an appeal. Most people choose to hire a disability lawyer to help them through the appeals process.
First, you can request a reconsideration of your claim. This means that your claim will be reconsidered by a different entity within Social Security, and it could be approved there. Most of the time, your appeal will go to the next step, which is a hearing with an administrative law judge.
You will present your claim and medical evidence to the judge during the hearing. The judge might ask about your past work and your ability to perform any type of work. He or she will also examine all the medical records that you have provided to support your claim.
If your claim is still denied by the judge, you have a right to bring your claim to federal court. Very few claims end up in Federal court, as most claims denied by a judge do not have enough merit to warrant continuing to fight the claim.
Must read articles related to Social Security Disability
- A complete guide on “How to Apply for Disability“.
- A complete guide on “How to Apply for SSI“.
- Learn more about what conditions qualify for disability.
- Learn more about how to win SSDI appeal.
- You may be entitled to SSDI back payments…read “How to track my disability back pay“.
How do you check your SSDI application status
Just like you had a few different options for applying for SSD, you also have a few options for checking your SSDI application status.
- Online – The easiest way to check your SSDI application is by signing into your my Social Security account. There you will be able to view the current status of your application.
- Phone – You can call the SSA office at the toll-free national number 1-800-772-1213 or call your local Social Security office to request the status of your SSDI application.
- In Person – You can visit your local Social Security office to meet with a representative who can provide you will an update on your SSDI application status.
TIP
You odds of winning an appeal generally increase if you hire a disability attorny to assist you with the appeals process.
How To Apply For Disability Benefits
Many people wonder how to get disability. Unfortunately, the application process for benefits can be confusing and extremely lengthy.
Luckily, we have a complete guide on How to Apply For Disability that will walk you through the process.
As a general guideline, you will need to follow a few steps throughout the application process.
- You must submit your initial application to the SSA and wait for a decision.
- If your application is denied, then you can request a reconsideration.
- If still denied, then you are entitled to have a hearing before a judge. About 30% of cases that were originally denied will be approved at this stage.
- If still not approved, then you are entitled to go before the Appeals Council and even to Federal District court.
- If you file an appeal, make sure that you know how to win your SSI appeal.
From initial application to the hearing stage can take 18-24 months, so this is not a fast process.
Very few cases make it to the Appeals Council or Federal District court. If you end up needing to appeal for a hearing, appeals council, or Federal district court, then you may want to consider enlisting the help of a disability lawyer.
The Bottom Line
Getting approved for disability can be crucial for many people who are unable to work due to a medical condition. While there is no way to know for certain whether your claim will be approved, there are signs that you will be approved for disability.
If you earn below SGA, have missed 12 months of work, or meet a Blue Book listing, those are all signs of a good disability hearing. Working with a disability attorney will also improve your odds of success.
Remember, even if your claim is initially denied, you have the right to appeal that decision!
Frequently Asked Questions
There are only a handful of conditions that are automatically approved such as ALS, organ transplants, and very serious types of cancer.
For other conditions, you will need to either meet or equal a listing or prove vocationally that you are unable to work due to your condition.
Your impairment must prevent you from performing substantial, gainful activity. This means that you must be unable to work due to your disability.
In addition, the disability must have already lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 months.
For SSDI, you must have a sufficient work history and earnings records to qualify under Social Security Disability Insurance. For SSI specifically, you must have limited income and resources to qualify.
From a medical standpoint, eligibility for SSI and SSDI programs is virtually the same.
The SSA generally takes three to four months to decide on your SSDI application, but this can get extended and take eight to twelve months.
Remember that to qualify for SSDI your condition must have lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 months.
This means you could be dealing with your disability for 15-24 months before you receive any SSDI benefits.
On the other hand, the SSA, on average, takes about three to five months to decide on SSI applications. Plus, if the applicant is age 65 or older they don’t need to be diagnosed with a disability to apply.
Several conditions qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
One of the most commonly approved conditions for Social Security disability benefits is arthritis and other musculoskeletal system disabilities.
Millions of people in the United States suffer from arthritis, which often makes it difficult for them to work.
No, they are two very different programs. The main difference between SSI and SSDI is that SSDI benefits require a work history.
You must have paid Social Security taxes to qualify for SSDI. SSDI payments are typically higher than SSI payments, and there is no requirement that you have a financial need to qualify for SSDI payments.
Another difference is the fact that you can qualify for SSI benefits even if you don’t have a disability, as long as you are 65 or older and have limited income and resources.
You can find a Social Security Administration office near you by using our SSA office locator and searching for your closest location.
