How to Find Out If I'm Eligible for Disability

According to the United States Social Security Administration (SSA), a 20-year old worker has a 3 in 10 chance of qualifying for disability before she reaches retirement age. Disability is paid out of two programs, the Social Security Disability Insurance Program and the Supplemental Security Income Program. Before you can apply for disability, you need to ensure that you are eligible to receive payments from the programs.

Instructions

Pass Work Tests and Meet Impairment Criteria

• 1

  Pass recent work tests. Check with your employer to confirm that you have worked at least 1.5 years during the last 3 years, starting from the quarter you became disabled if you are younger than 24 years old. Confirm that you worked half of the time period beginning with the quarter that you turned 21 years old and ending with the quarter that you became disabled if you are 24 years old but not older than 30 years old. Verify that you worked at least 5 out of 10 years ending with the quarter you became disabled if you are 31 years or older.

• 2

  Validate that your illness is on the SSA list of impairments. Review the list of impairments on SSA's Part A and Part B criteria (see Resources). Show that you have a health impairment that is either permanent or expected to result in death. Supply evidence that illustrates that you have had the impairment for at least 12 consecutive months. Note that the impairments listed on the SSA's Part A criteria include conditions such as major dysfunction of joints, amputation, fracture of the tarsal bones or spinal disorders. Keep in mind that the impairments listed on the SSA's Part B criteria include conditions such as brain tumors, cerebral palsy, asthma and cystic fibrosis.

• 3

  Prove that you are unable to work. Contact your state vocational rehabilitation agency. Complete tests to find out if you can continue to perform your current job. Pass state agency evaluations that show that you are also unable to perform any other work for your age, education, past work experience and skill sets due to your medical condition.

• 4

  Verify that you are visually impaired. Schedule an appointment with your physician and your local state vocational rehabilitation agency. Take eye tests that prove that your vision is unable to be repaired beyond 20/200 in your best eye. Keep in mind that the SSA considers you to be legally blind if your visual field is not at least 20 degrees in your best eye.