In 2020, the Social Security Agency (SSA) awarded Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits to 619,363 new workers, bringing SSD recipients to more than 9.5 million Americans. But this number represents only a small percentage of workers applying for disability benefits. In 2019, 2,064,798 workers applied for disability benefits. However, only 29% of these applications were approved, which is the figure with an average approval rate of 31% in the 10-year period.
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There are many reasons why SSA may deny workers’ disability applications, ranging from lack of information to supporting claims of disability to certainty that the disability is not serious enough. Here are some of the most common reasons why you may reject a disability application.
1. Disability is short-term
Workers involved in an accident or suffering from a medical condition may be eligible for short-term disability benefits. These benefits can be paid through an employer-provided or private short-term disability insurance plan. The Social Security Bureau does no Provide benefits for short-term disability. Social Security Disability Benefits are only paid to workers who are ongoing or expected to last for at least 12 months or Causing death. If the condition is expected to be resolved in less than 12 months, for example, you have undergone five months of recovery and recovery surgery, the application will be denied.
2. Too high income
Only workers are eligible for SSD benefits if their disability prevents them from participating in a large number of paid activities or SGAs. This number changes every year. Despite some exceptions, generally, if the applicant earns more than $1,350 per month ($2,260 if the applicant is legally blind), the SSA will generally reject disability applications. Rejecting benefits from incomes exceeding SGA is technical denial;This means that the application is rejected due to reasons other than the applicant's medical condition.
3. Be able to perform routine work
The fact that the applicant has a disability is expected to last 12 months or more, which does not mean automatic eligibility for SSD benefits. Many people with disabilities can continue to work on their current jobs either because routine treatment helps relieve symptoms or accommodation can be provided. For example, most Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives. However, the combination of medications, physical therapy, chiropractic or other treatments makes symptoms easy to manage and interfere with their ability to work at least. For others, workplace accommodation allows them to continue working. For example, applicants working in an applicant who needs to stand or an assembly line can continue working if they provide chairs or more frequent rest time. If there is any evidence that the applicant can continue to work in his current work, the application will be denied.
4. Be able to perform other tasks
In 2019, SSA rejected 42% of disability applications because applicants were able to perform other tasks. To obtain benefits, the applicant must not only consider not only his age, experience and education, but also cannot perform any other work. For example, an applicant with a disability prevents him from continuing to operate heavy machinery will not be suddenly expected to serve as a lawyer, architect or other position that requires professional skills or education that he does not have. However, if he has taught courses on how to repair or operate the machine, or he has supervision skills that do not require him to operate the machine, the SSA can deny the benefit application because the disability cannot prevent him from performing other work.
5. The medical condition is not serious enough
SSA rejected 23.8% of SSD applications in 2019 because it determined that the applicant’s disability was not serious enough. What does this mean? As already discussed, this may mean that disability is not expected to last for more than 12 months. For example, a fractured surgeon cannot perform surgery when the bone heals, but in most cases, the condition does not last longer than 12 months.
This rejection is likely to occur because the applicant's disability does not meet the severe definition of the SSA. The SSA's determination of disability is guided by its Blue Book, which lists more than 100 prohibited conditions that enable applicants to qualify for SSD benefits. Each condition has criteria that the applicant must meet to obtain benefits. Failure to meet these standards, or indicating how medical conditions equal or exceed these standards, will result in finding that the disability is not serious enough and will be denied.
6. Other factors
One in five or 20.5% of disability denials in 2019 are due to other factors, such as the lack of medical evidence to support the claim of disability or technical denial, which is when an application is denied due to reasons other than the applicant’s medical condition. This may include failure to work with the SSA, failure to follow a doctor's prescription treatment process, or whether it is unable to work due to drug abuse and/or alcohol.
If your disability application is denied, don't panic. Rejection can be appealed, and the chances of approval have increased significantly. It is estimated that 50% of disability applications were approved after the administrative hearing, which is the second step in the appeal process. (In the first phase of the appeal process, only 15% of applications were approved).
If the SSA rejects your disability benefit application, an experienced disability lawyer can help you file an appeal and improve your chances of ultimately receiving benefits. The Good Legal Team has over 30 years of experience in handling Social Security disability cases at every level of the application process and we will not receive any payment unless you receive benefits. Call us at (847) 577-4476 to arrange a free case assessment.
