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A non-medical review for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) examines the criteria of your application for benefits unrelated to your medical condition. This review of your SSDI application focuses on verifying your work history, income, and other Social Security Disability requirements to ensure you meet the non-medical qualifications for benefits. Additionally, it assesses whether you have accumulated enough work credits based on your age and work history to qualify for SSDI.
A non-medical review can be challenging. It requires a thorough understanding of the legal and procedural aspects of SSDI and SSI applications. A Social Security Disability lawyer in Rutherfordton can provide assistance in this process, helping to streamline your application and improve your chances of approval.
Understanding Citizenship Requirements for SSDI and SSI Benefits
The Social Security Administration (SSA) mandates specific citizenship or residency criteria that applicants must meet to qualify for SSDI and SSI benefits. To be eligible for SSDI or SSI benefits, an applicant must either be a U.S. citizen or fall within certain categories of non-citizens with authorized residency. Here’s a breakdown of the key criteria:
- U.S. Citizens: Naturally, U.S. citizens qualify for SSDI and SSI.
- Lawful Permanent Residents: Commonly referred to as green card holders, lawful permanent residents are eligible for SSDI and SSI benefits.
- Certain Non-Citizens: Non-citizens granted specific types of visas or protected statuses, such as U.S. Nationals, refugees, or asylum seekers, may also be eligible for SSDI and SSI. These individuals must have obtained a Social Security Number (SSN) through legal authorization to work in the U.S.
During the non-medical review process, the SSA will verify an applicant’s citizenship or legal residency status. Applicants must provide appropriate documentation, such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or green card, among others, to prove their eligibility under this criterion. Your Social Security Disability attorney can help you compile this information.
The Role of Employment History in SSDI Eligibility
A critical component of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application process is the review of an applicant’s employment history. SSA assesses whether applicants have contributed enough to the Social Security system through their work history to qualify for disability benefits.
What Are Work Credits?
Work credits are the building blocks of eligibility for SSDI benefits. They represent your financial contributions to the Social Security system, earned through taxable work. Here’s what you need to know:
- Earning Work Credits: In 2024, one work credit is earned for every $1,730 in wages or self-employment income, with the possibility to earn up to four credits per year.
- Required Credits: The number of work credits needed to qualify for SSDI depends on your age at the time of disability. You need 40 credits with 20 of those earned during the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.
Evaluating Your Employment History
During the non-medical review, the SSA will meticulously analyze your work history to verify the number of work credits you have accumulated. This includes:
- Duration of Work: Your employment duration and the income earned during your working years are scrutinized.
- Recent Work Test: This test checks if you have worked enough in the years immediately before your disability.
Applicants are required to provide detailed employment history documentation, including W-2 forms, tax returns, and any other records of employment. Accurate and comprehensive documentation is crucial for substantiating your work credit claims.
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Assessing Income for SSDI Eligibility
SSA will also examine an applicant’s income to ensure it does not exceed levels that would disqualify them from receiving disability benefits. Income, also referred to as substantial gainful activity (SGA), includes wages earned from any source that contributes to the applicant’s financial stability.
What Is Substantial Gainful Activity SGA?
SGA refers to a specific monthly income threshold set by the SSA that indicates whether an individual’s work activity is significant enough to disqualify them from receiving SSDI benefits. The SGA amount is adjusted annually for inflation. For 2024, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for blind individuals.
If you earn more than the SGA amount from employment or self-employment, the SSA may determine that you are not disabled according to their criteria, affecting your eligibility for SSDI benefits.
Impact of Other Income Sources
The SSA also considers other income sources during the SSDI application review process:
- Workers’ compensation: Receipt of workers’ compensation benefits can affect your SSDI benefits. The total amount of SSDI and workers’ compensation benefits cannot exceed 80% of your average current earnings before you became disabled. Exceeding this limit may result in a reduction of your SSDI benefits.
- Other Public Disability Payments: Similar to workers’ compensation, other public disability payments may also reduce your SSDI benefits if the combined total exceeds the 80% threshold of your average earnings.
- Pensions and Private Disability Insurance: Unlike workers’ compensation and public disability payments, pensions, and private disability insurance benefits generally do not affect your SSDI benefit amount unless the pension is from a job that did not pay into the Social Security system.
During the income review process, applicants must accurately report all sources of income, including employment earnings, workers’ compensation benefits, and any other public or private disability payments.
Key Requirement of a SSI Non-Medical Review
SSI eligibility hinges not only on age and disability but, as a needs-based program, it examines the applicant’s income and resources.
The SSI program assesses an applicant’s financial situation, focusing on income and resources. To qualify, individuals must demonstrate limited income and assets, ensuring they fall within the program’s thresholds. This includes a review of cash, bank accounts, stocks, and personal property.
Your Application Should Include Medical and Non-Medical Evidence
If you are applying for SSDI or SSI benefits and have concerns about meeting not only your medical requirements but also SSA requirements for non-medical criteria, Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can help. We can review your initial application and help you appeal a denial if you have already submitted your application. Our Social Security Disability lawyers can determine what you are missing and work with you through the appeals process.
Call us today for a free initial consultation. Our attorneys are ready to assist you.
