The definition of “disabled” as used by the Social Security Administration means that your medical condition must have prevented you from working for the past twelve months or social security must be able to conclude from your medical records that you will not be able to work for twelve months.
Your disability does not have to be considered permanent to be found disabled. Once on disability, if your medical condition improves to the point where you can return to work, you must notify the Social Security Administration at which time your disability benefits will be cut off. Everyone that is on Social Security disability or SSI will have their claim reviewed from time to time. In New Mexico it seems as though the majority of cases are typically reviewed every three to five years.
When the Social Security Administration is evaluating your disability and your ability to work, they will first look to the jobs you have had the past fifteen years. If they determine that you are capable of performing any of those jobs, your claim will be denied. This is why in the initial application, the Social Security Administration will ask you to give them information about jobs you have performed in the past 15 years.
If social security determines that you cannot perform any of your past work, they then will consider whether you are capable of performing other types of work. This means other types of work that you could reasonably do based on your age, education, transferable skills, and medical limitations.
If social security determines that you are not capable of performing your past work or “other work” then you will be considered disabled. Once you are determined to be disabled from a medical standpoint you will be entitled to disability benefits as long as you meet the financial requirements for either Social Security Disability or SSI. Stay tuned for a post on that discussion.
Tags: claims processing, disability, new mexico, Social Security
