Are You Over 50?
Are You Over 50?
If you’re over 50 and disabled, you shouldn’t delay applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI or SSD).
General Qualifications for SSD Eligibility
For you to be eligible for SSD, your disability must last for at least a year or be terminal. You must also be under age 65 to be eligible, as 65 is normally the age of Medicare eligibility. You must have accumulated a prescribed number of Social Security credits (normally accumulated through work experience and payment into Social Security) during the 10 years immediately preceding disability.
If you appear to meet these basic requirements, here are some more things to consider in determining whether you should be applying for Social Security Disability Insurance.
Does your condition prevent you from engaging in “Substantial Gainful Activity”?
Contrary to what many people believe, your disability does not need to prevent you from engaging in all work for you to be eligible to receive SSDI benefits. If, however, you make more than a certain amount of money from your work, it’s unlikely you’ll receive SSDI. This amount changes regularly, so it’s important to stay informed. You can easily get up-to-date information by calling the Social Security Administration toll-free at 800-772-1213 (TDY 1-80325-0778). During the 2012 tax year, the amount disqualifying someone from receiving SSDI benefits is set at $1010 per month.
“Substantial Gainful Activity” refers to any type of work.
If the Social Security Administration determines that your condition prevents you from doing the sort of work you did before, it will try to determine whether your condition prevents you from adjusting to other types of “Substantial Gainful Activity.” If, despite your condition, you are considered capable of earning an income from other work, it’s unlikely you’ll be found eligible for SSDI.
Does any disabling condition qualify you for SSDI?
Generally, yes, as long as all other requirements are met. The SSA has a list of medical conditions that automatically qualify as disabling conditions, but other conditions are equally acceptable as disabling conditions if SSA determines they are as serious as conditions on the list. The same requirements apply whether you suffer from a condition on the list or from an equally serious condition not on the list.
The job market can be unkind when you’re over 50.
This isn’t always the case, of course, as workers over 50 represent a vital segment of the US economy. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers over 54 will represent nearly a quarter of the workforce by 2018. But the fact is, finding and holding a job is a challenge for many mature workers—especially where disability over 50 enters the picture.
If you are over 50 and disabled as a result of an accident, congenital condition, or any other impairment or cause, and you meet the other requirements for Social Security Disability Insurance, you should apply for SSDI benefits without delay. Processing of claims for SSDI normally takes three to five months, and you won’t want to wait any longer than necessary to receive the benefits you’re due.
If you’re considering applying for Social Security Disability, click here for a free SSD evaluation. If you’ve already applied and been denied benefits—or you’re still waiting for the result—the free evaluation may help you learn how to make a stronger case for receiving SSD benefits. If you’ve already been approved for Social Security Disability Insurance, call MedicareMall toll-free at (877) 413-1556 and we’ll help you make sure you’ve got everything in order.
If you’d like more information about Social Security Disability, a bonded, licensed MedicareMall representative will be happy to answer your questions. We’ll also be glad to answer any questions you may have about Medicare Advantage or Medicare supplement plans, which can provide fuller, more secure coverage once you’re approved for Medicare.
Contact MedicareMall now and we’ll make it our priority to help you make the best-informed decisions possible when it comes to your health or disability.