The Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) disability programs offer monthly support to help you cover your bills, living expenses, and medical costs.
Benefits are often available to dependents as well and can keep your family above water even when a serious medical condition stops you from working.
As the caregiver to a friend or family member with a serious illness, you can apply for Social Security disability benefits on his or her behalf. Benefits may be available through one or both of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) disability programs. Once approved, your family member or friend will receive any back benefits due as well as ongoing, monthly disability payments to help cover everyday living expenses, medical bills, and other costs.
For many applicants, the pursuit of Social Security Disability benefits might require more than one application for benefits, an appeal of a decision. Some cases might even require both.
To be awarded Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, you must meet both the medical and non-medical requirements as outlined by the Social Security Administration (SSA). While you might be quite ill and meet the medical criteria to be considered disabled, you still might be denied disability benefits. A technical denial occurs when an applicant does not meet the non-medical requirements for disability benefits.
If you’re disabled and out of work, you may be eligible for financial assistance. Hundreds of conditions “automatically” qualify for disability benefits, meaning that your application’s review and approval may come in as little as 10 days. Most conditions that automatically qualify for disability benefits are terminal. Here are some examples of the types of conditions that are eligible for expedited Social Security disability qualification: