It happens more often than people realize — an untimely accident results in a serious injury that impacts your ability to work. If your spouse got hurt at home and can’t work, you have come to the right place to know what to do for income.
At Disability Apply, we specialize in helping individuals file for — and receive — Social Security Disability benefits that could generate income for you and your family. It is helpful to know that you have options no matter where you were injured.
Need immediate assistance applying for disability benefits? Fill out this form to contact helpful representative today to guide you through the next steps!
How to Generate Income if Injured and Unable to Work
Consider the option of applying for Social Security Disability benefits if your spouse was recently injured.
Do Your Spouse Qualify for Disability Benefits?
Regardless of whether your spouse was injured at work or at home, they may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Social Security Disability benefits are not dependent on the location of your injury.
However, the guidelines for disability benefits eligibility is based on the severity of your impairment. The Social Security Administration (SSA) utilizes strict guidelines for qualification:
- Proof of disability
- Ample work credits
- Severe, lengthy impairment
Do you think your spouse qualifies? Read on! It is important to note, though, that if your spouse was injured at work, they may also qualify for worker’s compensation.
Evidence of Medical Condition
If your doctor says that your spouse can no longer work due to an injury at home, you could qualify for disability benefits.
However, you must provide evidence of your spouse’s physical condition. You cannot obtain disability benefits purely on your doctor’s recommendation.
The SSA will consider your spouse’s physician’s assessments, as well as clinical observations, test results, and other supporting documents.
Work Credits
In addition to the medical condition requirements, the Social Security Administration (SSA) requires that you work long enough — and recently enough — to qualify for disability benefits.
For example, you can earn up to a maximum of 4 work credits per year. In 2019, you could earn one credit for each $1,360 in wages. Once you earned $5,440, you would have met your maximum allotted credits for the year.
The number of work credits your spouse needs to qualify for benefits depends on the age when they became disabled. Usually, you are required to have obtained 40 credits, with 20 of those credits being earned in the last 10 years.
Impairment Severity
Your spouse’s condition must significantly limit their ability to perform sedentary work for at least 12 months.
The physical impairment must have lasted at least 6 months with the expectancy to last a minimum of 12 months to qualify. You must also prove that your spouse cannot do any other kind of work to be considered eligible.
The Qualifying Physical Disabilities for Disability Benefits
The following physical conditions and medical conditions are just a sample of the extensive list you will find in the SSA Disability Blue Book. Review this list to gain a better understanding of whether your spouse’s injury may qualify for disability benefits.
- Neck, Back, or Spinal Cord Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Stoke
- Epilepsy (Seizures)
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Chronic Pain or Fatigue
- Heart Disease and Other Cardiovascular Conditions
- Diabetes
- Respiratory Disease
- Orthopedic Problems
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Joint Injuries (Such as Hips, Knees, Ankles)
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Cancer
Unsure If Your Spouse Qualifies for Disability Benefits?
We understand that it’s challenging to know exactly whether your spouse’s condition fits within the SSA framework for disability benefits. That’s why we’re available to help!
If you or your spouse got hurt at home and can’t work, please contact us today to discuss whether applying for Social Security Disability benefits is right for you. Complete this form or contact us to talk to a qualified agent that can help you ohttp://contactut!
We are prepared to walk you through this difficult time to get your family back on your feet.