To be considered disabled for purposes of receiving Social Security Disability you must not be able to do any kind of substantial gainful activity for a continuous period of at least one year, or have an impairment that may result in death.  The disability must be medically determinable.  In other words, there must be a medical basis either physically or mentally for the condition.

hurt back at workThe Social Security Administration will consider your age, education, and work history along with your medical condition.  For example, a 57 year old hard laborer who has degenerative disc disease along with rheumatoid arthritis that prevents him from doing the type work that he has always done in the past, but is still capable of doing light work, will likely be considered disabled because of his age and lack of experience in other fields of work.  In contrast, a 35 year old banker with an MBA from The Ohio State University that has a slight onset of fibromyalgia would find it much harder to fall within the SSA’s definition of disabled.

In either case, an attorney should be contacted as soon as a denial letter is received.  If you reside anywhere within the state of Ohio, our office would be happy to schedule you in for an appointment regarding your SSD / SSI claim.  You can fill out the online contact form or give us a call at 937-432-9775 to schedule an appointment to meet with one of the partners.