The Social Security Administration maintains strict eligibility criteria for receiving disability benefits. The SSA’s disability benefits programs – Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income – have various requirements for a person to become eligible for benefits. But what could disqualify you from getting disability from the SSA?
Earning Too Much Income
Earning too much income could disqualify you from SSDI or SSI. For SSDI, earning a monthly income from work that exceeds the threshold for substantial gainful activity may lead the Social Security Administration to find an applicant not disabled since they can work and earn a living despite their medical condition.
Qualifying for SSI requires applicants to fall under a threshold for countable monthly income and resources. Earning more than this threshold can render an applicant ineligible for SSI, which focuses on providing disability benefits to low-income individuals.
Inadequate Work History
Qualifying for SSDI requires an applicant to have a sufficient work history, including recent work history over the five years preceding the onset of the applicant’s disability. The SSA measures work history by work credits, which people earn when they earn a specific amount of taxable income (up to a maximum of four credits per year). The number of total work credits and recent work credits that an applicant needs depends on their age at the onset of their disability, with younger workers requiring fewer credits.
Non-Disabling Medical Condition
The Social Security Administration frequently denies SSD benefits claims when it finds that an applicant’s medical condition does not meet the administration’s definition of a “disability.” A condition may qualify as a disability when it renders a person incapable of working all types of full-time work. The condition must remain this severe for at least 12 months or will result in the applicant’s death.
The SSA also maintains a “Blue Book” of listed medical conditions that can qualify for SSD benefits. An applicant must have a condition listed in the Blue Book or a condition that at least equals the severity of a listed condition to qualify for benefits.
Failure to Follow Treatment
The Social Security Administration may deny an applicant’s SSD benefits application when an applicant fails to follow their physician’s treatment plan or recovery instructions. An applicant who does not pursue a treatment for a disabling condition may show the SSA that they will not try to improve their condition, which may help them return to work and get off SSD benefits.
Lack of Cooperation with the SSA
During the SSD benefits application review process, the Social Security Administration may request additional information or documentation from an applicant, such as updated medical records, or require them to attend a medical examination. Applicants who ignore such requests risk having their applications denied due to a lack of cooperation and inadequate medical evidence to prove they have a qualifying condition.
Drug or Alcohol Abuse
The Social Security Administration may deny disability claims for medical conditions caused or exacerbated by alcohol or drug abuse. If Social Security finds that substance use / abuse is a contributing factor, material to the fining of disability, they can deny payments for disabled individuals. Substance abuse during a claim for disability can often disqualify an applicant. Although many medical professionals consider alcohol or drug addiction a disease, not seeking treatment for such addictions could disqualify an individual from SSD benefits.
Contact an SSD Lawyer Today
When the Social Security Administration has denied your SSD claim, understanding the reasons for your disqualification can help you pursue an appeal for benefits. Contact Crowe & Shanahan today for a free, no-obligation consultation with an SSD attorney to learn more about factors that can disqualify you from getting disability benefits from the SSA.