If you live in Tennessee and you are unable to work as a result of a difficult medical condition, you may wonder if you should pursue a claim for disability benefits. You may wonder what conditions are considered as disabilities by the Social Security Administration, and how claims are pursued, reviewed, and decided. You may be curious about how much you might receive each month if your claim were approved. All of these questions are important and understandable questions to ask. Knowing and understanding the law and how claims are decided can provide peace of mind and reduce stress during a difficult time.

What Disability Benefits Are Available?

While there are options to seek benefits through short-term and long-term disability policies if you have such a policy and your condition falls within its coverage, many people choose to seek disability benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Those who choose to do so should know that the Social Security Administration administers two types of disability benefit programs. These include:

• Social Security Disability Insurance: Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, or SSDI benefits for short, are benefits that are intended for individuals who have a medical condition that has rendered them disabled for one continuous calendar year or more, and who are “insured.” To the Social Security Administration, being “insured” means that you paid employment taxes into the Social Security Administration from your salary for a sufficient length of time.

• Supplemental Security Income: Unlike the case with SSDI benefits, those who seek SSI benefits do not need to be “insured.” Instead, they must have income and resources below a specific annual limit established by the Social Security Administration. As with SSDI benefits, those who seek SSI benefits must also have a medical condition that has rendered them disabled for one continuous calendar year or more.

Depending upon your particular circumstances, you may wish to seek one or both of these benefits. Regardless of which type of benefit you seek, it is important to understand that you must have a medical condition that the Social Security Administration considers a viable disability.

What Criteria Does the Social Security Administration Use to Assess a Condition?

People often want to know whether the Social Security Administration awards benefits for physical and mental health conditions. The answer to this question is yes. A disability can be either physical or mental.

In determining whether or not a condition is considered to be a disability, the Social Security Administration will assess whether the particular condition:

• Results in an inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity and
• Has lasted, or is expected to last for at least one continuous calendar year or more, or
• Can be expected to result in death.

In making this assessment, the Social Security Administration will review the applicant’s medical evidence and consult its listing of impairments, more commonly known as the Blue Book. This guide contains a variety of conditions and the accompanying symptoms of those conditions. If a condition is not explicitly listed in the Blue Book, this does not mean that a claim will necessarily be denied. It simply may mean that additional proof is necessary.

How Much Could You Receive?

This is another understandable and often-asked question. It’s important to understand that your particular condition will not affect the benefits you receive. Other than for very rare exceptions, such as blindness, the particular condition itself does not factor into the amount of monthly benefit that is ultimately awarded. Instead, the Social Security Administration will consider various factors in calculating benefits. Some of these factors include work and earnings history and income and resource level.

It is also essential to keep in mind that regardless of the factors considered, there is a maximum monthly benefit amount that the Social Security Administration will pay each month. In 2025, the maximum SSDI payment that an individual can receive each month in 2025 is $4,018, and the maximum SSI payment is $967 per month for an individual or $1,450 per couple.

Muse Disability – Here for You

For those who are dealing with a difficult disability, life is stressful enough without worrying and wondering how you’ll pay your bills when you can’t work. If you find yourself in this situation and you are ready to pursue a claim for disability benefits, you may feel unsure how to take the first step. After all, the law can be complicated and confusing. The good news is, the legal team at Muse Disability is here to help. We know and understand the law regarding disability benefits, and we’ll be here to keep you informed and involved in your case each step of the way. If you’re ready to get started today, give us a call. We look forward to speaking with you soon.