Can I Be Automatically Qualified for Social Security Disability?

If you were recently diagnosed with a disabling medical condition and are planning to seek Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you may be wondering about wait times and whether there are any options for being automatically qualified for benefits. If you begin to conduct your own research on the internet, you may find information about “automatic qualification” for benefits, and the types of conditions that can “automatically qualify” a person to receive SSDI payments. Our national disability benefit attorneys want to clarify what this kind of terminology means and to provide you with more useful information about qualifying for SSDI payments.

“Automatic Qualification” Might Not Mean What You Think It Does 

In searching for information about SSDI benefits and eligibility, you might have found articles like one from AARP that discusses the types of medical conditions that can automatically qualify a person for SSDI payments. To be clear, you cannot automatically qualify for benefits with a single medical diagnosis, and automatic qualification does not mean that you will instantly be able to start receiving benefits.

What does automatic qualification mean, then? In truth, “automatic qualification” can be a confusing way to discuss eligibility for SSDI payments since you must qualify based on more than medical evidence, and nobody receives benefits instantaneously. As that AARP article explains, “automatic here means that Social Security recognizes that these conditions meet its baseline definition of a disability: an illness or injury that prevents you from working for at least a year or likely will cause death.”

All of these conditions that “automatically” qualify are listed in the Blue Book, a document the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses that outlines a wide range of detailed disorders. If you do not have one of these conditions, you can still meet the medical requirements but will need to show that your condition prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity and is likely to last for at least 12 months or to result in your death. In addition to a qualifying medical diagnosis and condition, you will also need to meet eligibility requirements based on your work history, including the amount of work in the past and length of time you worked.

Waiting Times and Compassionate Allowances 

You should know that there is no automatic qualification in terms of automatically receiving benefits once you have a certain medical diagnosis, and even once you meet the medical and work requirements, you will still need to wait.

Most applications have a five-month waiting period (although it has been longer for many applicants given delays at the SSA). While it will not result in automatically receiving benefits, if you have a particularly serious condition, you should determine whether you qualify for the Compassionate Allowances program, which can speed up the timetable to you receiving SSDI payments.

Contact a National SSDI Lawyer Today for Help with Your Case 

Do you have questions about seeking SSDI benefits, or do you need help with your application? Whether you are in the early stages of applying for SSDI benefits or you have been denied and need assistance with reconsideration, our firm is here to help. We can tell you more about how the SSA looks at certain conditions for medical eligibility, and we can assist you with your claim every step of the way. Do not hesitate to get in touch with an experienced national SSDI benefits lawyer at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz. Contact us today to learn more.

Sources:

aarp.org/retirement/social-security/questions-answers/medical-conditions.html

ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html

ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm

ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/#:~:text=Compassionate%20Allowances%20are%20a%20way,rare%20disorders%20that%20affect%20children