If you live in Ohio and have a disability that prevents you from working, you may have questions about applying for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. For example, you may have heard that there are two methods by which you can be approved for benefits: either by satisfying the requirements of one of the conditions contained in the SSD “list of impairments” or by receiving a “medical vocational allowance.”
Satisfying a listing may seem straightforward; after all, if you have a certain disability, you should meet the criteria, right? Well, unfortunately, it may not be that simple. The list of impairments tends to have quite specific requirements and what’s more, not all disabling conditions are included on the list. Furthermore, you have the burden of proving that you meet the specific requirements of a listing, so if your medical documentation does not match the requirements of the listing, then you will not be granted disability using this method.
So, what if you don’t qualify under a listed impairment? Do not despair, as there is also the “medical vocational allowance” that may make you eligible for SSD benefits. In order to qualify for benefits due to this allowance, the disabled person will have to provide a comprehensive work history, as well as documentation reflecting the medical treatment that has been received for his or her condition. The work history must go back 15 years prior to the beginning of the disability. With this information, the Social Security Administration will analyze the effects that your condition has had and is likely continue to have on your ability to perform the duties of the type of work you have done in the past. Also, the evaluator will try to determine if there is a type of appropriate work that you could do that would not be affected by your condition.
As you can see, the process of obtaining disability benefits is not as simple as it may seem at first glance. However, it is also not hopeless. With the right documentation and presentation, you can qualify for those benefits to which you are entitled. Furthermore, there is also an appeals process if you receive an initial denial of benefits. Anyone wishing to seek help with the application process in Ohio may wish to contact an experienced disability attorney.
Source: ssdrc.com, “The two methods of being approved for disability,” accessed Dec. 22, 2014