As a Florida resident who is unable to work because of a serious disability, you may be wondering whether you are eligible for benefits from the U.S. Social Security Administration. While, ultimately, whether you qualify for said benefits will depend on certain factors, such as how long you worked in a role covered by Social Security, the decision will also come down to whether you meet the administration’s strict definition of “disability.” At Kaylor, Kaylor & Leto, P.A., we have a firm understanding of what constitutes a disability, and we have helped many clients pursue benefits or appeal benefit denials.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Social Security disability benefits assist those who have serious, chronic disabilities that should last longer than a year, or ultimately lead to a citizen’s death. In other words, if you have a short-term disability, you may be able to find assistance through other entities, but you will not be able to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
Just what constitutes a serious, long-term disability? If you are applying for benefits, know that, in addition to having a long-term disability, you must also have one that is severe enough to prevent you from performing the job you held previously. Furthermore, it must be severe enough that any reasonable accommodations your employer could make would not be enough for you to be able to perform the duties associated with your position.
On its website, the U.S. Social Security Administration maintains a list of conditions that it considers severe enough to constitute disabilities. If you do not find your condition listed, however, please note that this does not automatically mean you will not qualify for benefits. You can find more about this topic on our webpage.
