Most people in Ohio are used to going to work everyday to earn income to support themselves and their families. So, when an injury or illness prevents them from doing so, the impact on the family’s finances can be devastating. Fortunately, the Social Security Disability system is in place to help Ohio residents who are unable to continue to work and earn an income. But, unfortunately, the process of getting approved to receive SSD benefits can be somewhat complex.
So, what are some of the most common questions about Social Security Disability benefits? Probably the most common question is who is eligible to receive these benefits? As a recent news article detailed, the eligibility requirements imposed by the Social Security Administration are quite strict. Only those who have the requisite amount of “work credits” – time working in the American workforce – will be eligible, and those individuals must have a disability that is serious enough that it is expected to last 12 months or longer, or result in death. The disability must prevent applicants from being able to work in any meaningful way to earn a solid income.
Next, most people wonder how long it will take to get a determination from the time they submit an application to the time a decision is made. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Each person’s application is different and some applications may take longer than others to make it through to a final determination about whether or not SSD benefits will be awarded.
Lastly, those who have their initial application for SSD benefits denied usually want to know their options for appealing that decision. As the recent news article noted, there are ways to appeal the decision, starting with a request that the initial application for SSD benefits be re-evaluated.
These are some basic answers to what can turn out to be very complex problems. Those who want to maximize their chances of successfully recovering SSD benefits may want to discuss the particularities of their case with a legal professional.