Disability Benefit Information

There are three major sources of disability benefits available: Social Security, Veterans Affairs and private insurance. Each program has different qualification requirements, payment schedules and processes for determining disability. One common aspect to all three, however, is any claim made for disability benefits will be determined based on the claimant's ability to work, health condition and documented medical evidence. A person cannot just claim some malady prevents work. A doctor or other caregiver's diagnosis must also indicate a physical or mental impairment.

Social Security

• The Social Security Administration's disability insurance is the most common source for workers and nonworkers to receive benefits. Social Security's determination process is different than most private programs because the issue is whether or not the claimant can work, not just whether or not the clamant can continue to do their job. This is an important difference. Social Security will not hesitate to tell a surgeon or lawyer making hundreds of thousands of dollars the diagnosis preventing them from practicing medicine or law does not prevent them from working as a secretary or fast food worker. Their claim would be denied. When applying for Social Security disability benefits it's important to know whether or not you are completely disabled from doing any work or learning a new trade.

Veterans

• Military veterans have disability benefits based on impairments occurring as a result of military service. Unlike Social Security, Veterans' disability will provide benefits for percentages of the body affected. As an example, losing a finger may result in a 5 percent benefit payment. Losing a hand might be 50 percent. Losing the entire arm could be 100 percent disabling. The one issue with Veterans benefits is the impairment must be linked to military service. A diagnosis after discharge with nothing in the active duty military medical records may mean denial.

Private Insurance

• Different private insurance disability programs have different requirements for eligibility. The major difference with Social Security's program is most private disability benefits are based on the ability to do the job insured. The same surgeon or lawyer Social Security denied may be allowed by a private insurer because it was the particular job that is insured, not just the ability to work.

Application Process

• All disability insurance programs have the same basic application process. Once the worker is no longer able to work an application is made for benefits. The insurer will then gather necessary evidence from the employer, the medical care provider and the worker to determine disability status. Depending on the insurer and the backlog of applications, the process can take as little as one month or as long as a year or more.

Medical Evidence

• All disability insurers require medical evidence to determine disability eligibility. If a worker claiming disability cannot afford medical care, the insurer (SSA, VA or private) will arrange for the worker to be examined by a physician who can determine the extent of any physical or mental impairment.