If you have experienced a serious illness or injury that has affected your ability to earn an income, you will want to determine your options for receiving financial assistance. If your injury or illness is severe enough to be considered a total disability, meaning that it has lasted or will last for at least one year and has affected your ability to earn enough income to support yourself, you may be able to receive Social Security disability benefits. Applying for these types of benefits can be a complicated process, and in many cases, disability claims may be denied. However, the denial of benefits does not mean that receiving financial assistance is impossible, and applicants may be able to pursue an appeal that will help them receive the benefits they deserve.

The Social Security Disability Appeals Process

When appealing the denial of Social Security disability benefits, a person will need to do the following:

1. Request reconsideration - An applicant can begin the appeals process by asking for their application to be reviewed. If an application was denied due to medical reasons, a Social Security official who did not participate in the original decision will review the claim, and they may consider the medical evidence that was originally submitted, as well as any new evidence submitted by the applicant.

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Originally published: September 13, 2011 -- Updated: December 6, 2021

UPDATE: Below, we look at the requirements that a person will need to meet to demonstrate that symptoms related to hypogammaglobulinemia fall into a category that Social Security considers to be a disabling medical condition. However, it is important to understand that even if a person does not meet the specific criteria detailed in Social Security’s Listing of Impairments, they may still be able to qualify for disability benefits by providing evidence of total disability.

Social Security uses a five-step process to evaluate a disability claim, and the third step in this process involves determining whether a person’s condition is included in the Listing of Impairments or is equivalent to a condition in this listing. If a person’s condition does not meet the criteria in the Listing of Impairments, the fourth step of the evaluation process will look at whether a person can perform work they have done in the past, and the fifth step will look at whether they can perform other types of work that would allow them to maintain enough income to support themselves.

Injuries, illnesses, and other health issues can affect people in many different ways. While some people can continue working and supporting themselves while dealing with these issues, others may experience disabilities that make it impossible to earn sufficient income. For those who are unable to work, Social Security disability benefits can provide assistance and ensure that they will have the financial resources to provide for their ongoing needs. By understanding how Social Security determines whether a person is disabled, those who plan to apply for disability benefits can make sure they will be eligible for financial assistance.

Eligibility for Disability Benefits

Social Security will only provide benefits in cases where a person has a total disability, and it will not address partial disabilities or short-term disabilities. A condition will only be considered a disability if it has already lasted for at least 12 months, if it is expected to affect a person for one year or more, or if it is expected to result in death. To qualify as a total disability, a condition must cause a person to be unable to do work that they had done previously, and a person must be unable to adjust to other forms of work.

While a person will usually apply for disability benefits if they are unemployed because of their health conditions, they may qualify for benefits if they are working but earn less than the amount that Social Security considers to be substantial gainful activity (SGA). In 2022, SGA is defined as an average monthly income of $1,350 or $2,260 for a person who is blind.