Understanding Long-Term Disability

Speak with Our Reno Social Security Disability Lawyer

According to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau, you have a one in five chance of becoming disabled. According to the Council for Disability Awareness, the average long-term disability suffered in our country results in an absence from work of 2.5 years. This is a long time to go without a steady income, and many disabled workers experience severe financial stress.

Long term disability is similar to Social Security Disability benefits in that they are both paid based on a calculation of how much you earned while you were working. Long term disability is a policy you may purchase through your employer, but if they don’t offer disability insurance, you can purchase it yourself through an insurance agent. Before you can receive SSDI government funded payments, you must be able to prove that your condition makes it impossible for you to return to work for at least a year. (Although it is not necessary to wait a full year before you begin the application process, we recommend applying as soon as possible.) Long term disability policies vary in the amount of time that lapses before benefits are paid. You insurance provider may require you to apply for Social Security Disability before they will pay on your policy.

Certain eligible employees may also qualify for long-term disability (LTD) benefits under the State of Nevada Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP). To learn more. Contact our Las Vegas Social Security Disability advocates.

At Disability Action Advocates, our Reno Social Security Disability advocates have been helping SSD candidates secure benefits for more than two decades. We know what challenges these applicants face when they are unable to work and how critical it is that they thoroughly assess their condition and properly submit their claim. DAA can assist you with this process and ensure that your claim stands every chance of an approval from the Social Security Administration.

Our professionals are ready to hear your story. Call us at (888) 401-3920 today.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD) does not cover short-term disabilities. You must be unable to work due to a permanent condition in order to qualify for SSD. As a result, many of our clients want to know, "How does the SSA define a permanent or long-term condition?" Simply put, in order to qualify for SSD benefits your disability must have lasted, or be expected by medical professionals to last, at least 12 months.

In addition to this requirement, you must be unable to earn more than $1000 per month in income. Lastly, you must have also paid into the system and earned sufficient "credits" in order to meet the basic qualifications of the SSA. It should be noted that with younger persons under the age of 22, a parent's work credits can be applied. Disability for children is also possible under certain circumstances. We can answer all of your questions concerning Social Security Disability and it will cost you nothing for a consultation.

Considering Your Work Options

People are sometimes confused by the 12-month qualification and mistakenly think that they cannot apply until they have been disabled for a full year. This is not the case. If you are unable to work for any reason, meeting with us to review your situation will enable us to inform you of your options and how we can help.

Many people are also unaware that they can work part time while collecting benefits or that it is possible to get SSD benefits even if you are collecting workmen's comp. You must also keep in mind that if you are back to work, we may be able to help collect for the years you were not working.

You do not have to face this complex and intimidating process without a knowledgeable professional by your side. Contact us today to request a case evaluation.