Kidney dialysis is a serious medical condition that can have long lasting negative consequences on the quality of your life. A dialysis machine handles the typical daily functions performed by a health kidney. From loss of energy to acute pain, having to live with kidney dialysis not only can limit the number of hours of week that your work, it also can make it impossible to work at all. How do you keep your financial house in order when you cannot earn income from a job?
The answer starts by applying for a Social Security Administration (SSA) program called Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Work-Based Claims Application
Anyone that relies on a kidney dialysis machine understands it is nearly impossible to hold down a steady job, especially a job that requires considerable physical exertion. If you require kidney dialysis to maintain functioning kidneys, then you should consider filing an SSDI application to recover the costs of lost wages.
To become eligible for SSDI benefits, you have to meet the minimum taxes paid threshold established for receiving Social Security benefits. The SSA measures Social Security taxes in credits, which you can receive up to four per year. Depending on your age, you must accumulate a specified minimum number of credits to qualify for SSDI benefits. The SSA uses a rolling 10-year period to measure the accumulation of Social Security tax credits.
Blue Book: The First Step for Qualifying for SSDI Benefits
The first step to determine whether you qualify for SSDI benefits is to check the SSA guide for eligible medical conditions called the Blue Book. If your disability is listed in the Blue Book, the next step in the SSDI benefits application process involves confirming that your symptoms match the symptoms presented for your medical condition. The medical criteria established by the SSA is often complicated to understand, which means working with a state licensed disability lawyer can help you determine SSDI benefits eligibility.
How the SSA Makes SSDI Benefit Decisions
As with other federal government programs, the SSA has to allocate limited resources to fund valid SSDI application requests. If you qualify for SSDI benefits, the SSA should approve your application for compensation that matches the income you generated from working a full-time job. A number of vocation and healthcare experts carefully review each SSDI application to decide whether applicants meet the qualification standards established by the SSA.
The SSA distributes SSDI benefits on a monthly basis to help recipients cover lost wages, as well as pay for medical expenses. If you receive approval for your SSDI application, then you should receive a monthly check that is roughly the same as your take home pay from the most recent job.
Applying for SSDI Benefits
Before digital technology, applicants for SSDI benefits either submitted an application through the United States Postal Service (USPS) or by applying in person at an SSA office. Both processes took a substantial amount of time that placed an incredible amount of financial pressure on qualified applicants.
The Internet provides applicants a much more efficient way to apply for SSDI benefits. You simply access the online application form, accurately fill out each second, and then hit the send button to apply for SSDI benefits. Digital applications typically move through the application process at a faster rate than the rate of applications filed in person or through snail mail.
