Other SSI/SSDI Facts
 Disability Due To Drug And Alcohol Addiction
Social Security will deny benefits if the disability is due to drug and/or alcohol addition. Many people incorrectly believe that because they have a substance abuse problem, they will be denied. This is not the case.
Even if there is a substance abuse problem, if the evidence shows that the disability would be present in the absence of the substance abuse, then the claimant can still qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.
Work History
If you do not meet a medical listing, Social Security will look at all the jobs you performed for the last 15 years. If Social Security finds that you are able to still do any of those jobs, you will not be found disabled.
Age
Your age is very important in the disability determination. A person younger than age 50 will have to prove that they have significant impairment and are unable to do even the most sedentary of jobs or have a serious mental impairment.
People over the age of 50 are evaluated under a different set of rules that take a more realistic approach to the availability of jobs to older disabled workers.
Skills/Education
Social Security looks at how much education and training you have had. They also look at other factors such as language and writing skills.
If you are unable to perform your past jobs, Social Security will usually use a vocational expert to determine if your education and skills can transfer to other jobs that are available in reasonable numbers in the national economy.
Duration Requirement
You have to prove that your impairment will prevent you from engaging in substantial gainful employment for at least 12 months or likely to result in death.
Citizenship/Us Residence Requirement
In order to qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits and SSI, you must be legally entitled to live in the United States.
You can only receive SSI benefits if you are both legally entitled to live in the United States and actually live in the United States while you are receiving SSI.
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