Struggling with a disabling medical condition can be incredibly difficult and frustrating in so many ways. Without question, if your disability has caused you to be unable to work and earn an income as you otherwise would, you may be experiencing a great deal of financial stress. If you find yourself in this situation, you may be considering whether or not to pursue a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, and you may wonder how long it might take to receive a letter regarding approval. Let’s take a closer look at the law together.

What Types of Benefits Are Available?

The Social Security Administration offers two types of benefits for disabled individuals, depending upon the particular circumstances involved. These include:

• Social Security Disability Insurance: Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, or SSDI benefits, for short, are benefits that the Social Security Administration provides to individuals who have a qualifying medical condition that has rendered them disabled for one continuous calendar year or more, and who are “insured.” The Social Security Administration considers an individual to be “insured” if they worked a job for a sufficient time through which they regularly paid employment taxes into the Social Security system.
• Supplemental Security Income: As is the case with SSDI benefits, in order to receive Supplemental Security Income, or SSI benefits, an applicant must have a qualifying medical condition that has rendered them disabled for one continuous calendar year or more. Unlike the case with SSDI benefits, however, an applicant need not be “insured” to be approved for SSI benefits. Instead, to be considered for benefits, an applicant must have income and resources below a certain annual limit established by the Social Security Administration.

Regardless of the type of benefit you pursue, the Social Security Administration’s general process in deciding whether or not to approve your claim will be the same.

A Closer Look at the Claim Approval Process

As with many legal matters, understanding how the Social Security Administration makes decisions on claims (and how long that process takes) may seem complicated and even overwhelming. Breaking it down into the various factors often considered when reviewing a claim can provide peace of mind.

Generally, when assessing a claim, the Social Security Administration considers:

• Whether or not the applicant is working: In order to be approved for benefits, an applicant must have a disability that has rendered them unable to work for one continuous calendar year or more. If the applicant is still able to work, they will likely not be approved for benefits.
• The severity of the disabling condition: An individual’s medical condition must be severe enough to limit their ability to perform basic work-related activities. To make this determination, the Social Security Administration will consult its listing of impairments, also known as the Blue Book, which contains a variety of conditions and their accompanying symptoms. It will review medical records submitted in conjunction with the claim when making this determination.
• Residual Functional Capacity: If a determination as to how disabling a condition is cannot be made based on medical information alone, the Social Security Administration may assess an applicant’s physical and mental capabilities using what is known as a Residual Functional Capacity Assessment. This assessment will determine what types of work the applicant may be capable of, which will be compared with the requirements of various jobs held by the applicant over the previous 15 years. If the SSA finds that you cannot perform previous forms of work, it may consider whether you can adjust to a new type of work. This will usually consist of evaluating your age, work experience, education, and overall physical and mental condition.

People often want to know how long this process will take – and the answer depends. If your case is clear and straightforward and the Social Security Administration is considering your application during a time that is less busy than others, an approval letter may arrive more quickly than during busier times of the year. Generally, however, an initial decision on a claim is rendered within three to five months.

Muse Disability – Here for You

At Muse Disability, we know and understand the difficulties that a disability can cause. That’s why we specialize in helping our clients fight for those benefits by putting our extensive knowledge and experience to work on your behalf. We will always pursue the best legal strategies for your claim, and we will walk with you each step of the way on this journey. We have been honored to walk with many of our clients as they have pursued the benefit they need and deserve. We would love to help you too. If you’re ready to take that first step today, call us. We look forward to helping you soon.