Documenting Work History Important When Applying
for Social Security Disability Benefits
Employment records are one
element to SSDI application, may play role in disability
appeal
Belleville, Ill. - April 18,
2011 - Historically, about three in 10 applications for Social
Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are denied for technical
(or nonmedical reasons). The most common technical denial is
because applicants lack the work history needed for eligibility,
according to Allsup, a nationwide provider of SSDI representation
and Medicare plan selection services.
"Work history is an important element in your SSDI
application," said David Bueltemann, Allsup manager of senior
claims representatives. "Even if you have a qualifying disability,
the type of work you've done in the past will be considered when
the Social Security Administration (SSA) determines your
eligibility for SSDI benefits. Most importantly, you must have
worked long enough and recently enough to be eligible to apply for
SSDI."
To illustrate, the SSA reported in its latest Annual
Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance
Program, released in October, that more than 700,000 technical
denials were issued from about 2.2 million applications in 2008.
SSDI is a federally mandated insurance program that taxpayers and
their employers fund through payroll taxes. Social Security
disability benefits provide monthly income to those who have
experienced a severe disability and can no longer work for 12
months or longer, or who have a terminal condition.
Bueltemann explained that the SSA follows a five-step
sequential process to evaluate SSDI applications, and that medical
examiners make decisions based on medical documentation, age and
work history, among other factors. If someone's application has
been denied, there may be work history issues to clear up during
the disability
appeal, as well.
"Allsup representatives often work with claimants to handle
questions about their work history because this can be a confusing
area," Bueltemann said.
SSDI and Work History
To help applicants, Allsup explains four areas where
documentation of someone's work history plays a role in an SSDI
claim.
- Work history documents can prove that you are currently insured. Working taxpayers contribute to the SSDI program with their FICA taxes. To be eligible for SSDI, you must be "currently insured," which means that you made recent FICA payments. Specifically, you must have paid for 20 quarters in the last 10 years to qualify.
- Work history documents can determine if you are fully insured. This is a second qualifier used to determine SSDI eligibility. You can earn up to four quarters a year, and generally, you are required to have 40 quarters of coverage. The SSA uses another calculation for younger workers-using six quarters of coverage, plus one quarter of coverage for each year after you reach age 21. For example, a person age 27 probably only needs 12 quarters of coverage to be fully insured.
- Work history details also factor into the SSA's determination if you are disabled. "The disability examiner will look at your disability, medical condition and your work experience when deciding your claim," Bueltemann explained. "The SSA will evaluate your ability to perform the work you did in your past, as well as any type of work that you may be capable of performing now." Read more about general disability guidelines on Allsup.com.
- Work history also factors into the amount of SSDI benefits you may receive. The SSA tracks your earnings and taxes paid to determine your Social Security retirement and, separately, your SSDI benefit amounts. These calculations are based on records filed by your employer, who is required to send the SSA a copy of your W-2 form.
Individuals who are not certain if they are eligible for SSDI
based on their work history, or who have questions about handling
their disability
appeal, may contact Allsup's Disability Evaluation Center at
(800) 279-4357 for a free SSDI evaluation.