Am I Disabled Enough to Apply for New Jersey Disability Benefits?

Lee esta página en español

The most common question asked of New Jersey disability lawyers is, “Am I disabled enough to qualify for Social Security disability benefits?” Social Security regulations are complex, and it’s hard to say for sure whether or not you will win benefits without knowing the medical evidence that is available in your case. Nevertheless, here are a few factors that affect your chances of winning benefits.

Age

The Social Security Administration makes it easier for people to receive benefits the older they get. Here are the different standards you must meet depending on your age:

• If you are over age 55, you must be unable to work at any job you have done in the last 15 years.
• If you are between the ages of 50 and 55, you must be unable to do all but the easiest jobs.
• If you are under age 50, you must be unable to do any of your past jobs or any job that exists in significant numbers in the United States.

None of these standards require you to be completely bedridden in order to qualify for benefits. No matter how old you are, it is enough for your disability to keep you from working full-time at any regular job.

Note that children under 18 cannot receive Social Security disability benefits. However, they may receive payments through another Social Security Administration program: Supplemental Security Income (SSI). For more information, see About Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Children.

Education and Work Experience

The Social Security Administration also considers your education and work experience when deciding whether you are able to adjust to new work. They look at how many years of formal schooling you have received, but also whether you have received any special job training or vocational training. Illiteracy or inability to communicate in English is another factor that the Social Security Administration will take into account.

When looking at how your work experience affects your ability to transition to a new job, the Social Security Administration will only consider jobs that you did within the past 15 years. If your mental and physical limitations would still allow you to return to a job that you held within this time period, you will be found not disabled. However, you must work full-time at a job for at least three months to pick up the relevant skills, so a job you held only very briefly will not count against you.

A New Jersey Disability Lawyer Can Help

If you have been denied disability benefits despite having a mental or physical impairment that keeps you from working, you need to appeal any subsequent denial of your appeal. To learn how I can help, please fill out the claim evaluation form on this page or contact me.