5 Steps to Prove You are Entitled to Social Security Disability Benefit (SS-DIB)

The Steps in Proving You are Entitled to Social Security Disability Benefits (SS-DIB)

1) Are you engaged in any substantial gainful activity (SGA)?

Substantial gainful activity means that if a claimant is unable to do ordinary/simple tasks without more assistance than other workers, the work may not be substantial. Social Security sets a dollar amount to determine whether or not work is "gainful". The monthly SGA amount for 2010 is $1000.

2) Do you have severe impairment?
Severe impairment must reduce what you can do in the work environment. The impairment must also be medically determinable; a doctor must be able to make a legitimate diagnosis with medical findings. The impairment must also be severe in duration, having lasted or be expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months.

3) Does your medical impairment meet or equal a listing on the List of Impairments?
The List of Impairments describes medical conditions that are considered so severe that they automatically mean that you are disabled as defined by law. If your impairment meets a listing, you are considered disabled, no further steps are necessary.

4) Are you capable of performing past relevant work?

First, what are your functional abilities?
When Social Security assesses your remaining ability to do basic work-related activities, they look at how your medical condition has affected your ability to: exert yourself physically, do manipulative and postural activities, tolerate certain environmental conditions, see, hear and speak, maintain concentration, understand and carry out instructions, respond appropriately to co-workers and cope with changes in the work setting.

Second, can you do your past work with those limitations?
Social Security will look at your relevant past work, or work that you did in the past 15 years that involved significant and productive physical or mental activities for pay, and compares it with their assessment of your ability to do basic work activities.

If you can still do your past work as you actually did it you are not disabled.

5) Can you perform other work?
If you cannot perform past relevant work, then the Social Security Administration must show there is work available in significant numbers considering your remaining ability or residual functional capacity to do other work considering your age, education and work experience.

Your residual functional capacity plays an important role in determining what types of jobs you can do, as follows:

Sedentary work includes lifting no more than 10 lb., ability to walk and stand occasionally and good use of hands and fingers.

Light work includes lifting no more than 20 lb. and the ability to frequently walk and stand.

Medium work includes lifting no more than 50 lb. and 25 lb. frequently and the ability to walk, stand, bend and stoop.

If, because of your injuries or illnesses you cannot life more than 10 lb. frequently, proven by medically determinable evidence, you will be limited to sedentary work. If it is determined you are unable to perform any other work in the national economy, you will be awarded Social Security Disability Benefits.

Conway SC Social Security Disability Attorney, Myrtle Beach SC Social Security Disability Attorney, Conway SC Social Security Disability Lawyer, Myrtle Beach SC Social Security Disability Lawyer, Conway SC Social Security Disability Attorneys, Myrtle Beach Social Security Disability Attorneys, Conway SC Social Security Disability Lawyers, Myrtle Beach SC Social Security Disability Lawyers. The Derrick Law Firm is located in Conway, the county seat and the location of the Horry County Courthouse. Mr. Derrick serves clients throughout Horry County including those from Myrtle Beach, Cherry Grove Beach, Little River, North Myrtle Beach, Atlantic Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, Carolina Forest, Loris, and Aynor. The Derrick Law Firm also accepts cases from surrounding counties including Georgetown, Georgetown County, Marion, Mullins, Pawley's Island, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, Florence, and Dillon. A substantial part of our practice is representing visitors to our area from other states.

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