Living with a chronic illness comes with a lot of stress, especially if it keeps you from being able to work. Fortunately, you may be eligible for some resources to ease the financial burden.
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program is designed to provide much-needed financial relief for American adults with serious disabilities, including some chronic illnesses. Either you or your family members have likely been paying into this program for years through taxes to ensure the benefit is there if you need it. If your chronic illness prevents you from working, you may be entitled to SSDI benefits.
Social Security Disability Insurance Eligibility for Adults
To become eligible for SSDI benefits as an adult, you must:
- Have a medical condition that meets the strict Social Security definition of disability.
- Meet nonmedical eligibility requirements such as citizenship, residency, and income level requirements.
- Be covered by Social Security. This usually means you fit into one of three categories:
- You have worked long enough and recently enough in a job or jobs covered by Social Security. The length of time you must have worked depends partially on your age. This is determined through Social Security’s “work credits” system.
- You have been disabled since before age 22, and you are or were a dependent of a parent who was entitled to title II disability or retirement benefits.
- You are a widow or widower aged 50-60 whose deceased spouse was insured under Social Security.
The Social Security website maintains a list of chronic illnesses and other medical conditions that can be evaluated to determine whether an adult meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability. However, having a condition mentioned in the list does not necessarily mean you will qualify for benefits. You must also meet the legal definition of disability.
For the SSA to consider you disabled from a legal perspective, you typically must be unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment. The impairment must either have lasted or be expected to last for at least one year or be expected to result in death. You must be able to prove you have this type and level of impairment through medically acceptable clinical and/or laboratory diagnostic evidence.
For instance, you may qualify if you can medically prove that your chronic illness and/or other conditions limit your ability to:
- Stand for a length of time
- Lift weight
- Bend your body
- Work with others
- Stay on task
- Engage in other activities that are required in order to work
If you are under age 50, you typically must prove there is no work you can physically and/or mentally perform. However, there are special rules for adults over 50. There are also special rules for veterans, people who are blind or have low vision, children with disabilities, and surviving spouses or divorced spouses.
The Long-Term Disability Benefits Application Process
Before you apply, you should gather all the information you need to complete the application. That includes basic information about yourself, your past work and income, any workers’ compensation you filed for or intend to file for, details and documents about your medical conditions, and contact information for someone who knows about your medical conditions and can help with the application. You can find a checklist of information to gather on the Social Security Administration website.
You can apply for Social Security Disability benefits online, by phone, or in person at your local Social Security office. You will then need to complete the disability benefit application form.
After you apply, the Social Security Administration will provide confirmation of your application electronically or by mail. They will review your application and contact you if they need more documentation.
Some applications are approved on the first try, but many individuals’ first attempts are denied. You may need to take additional steps to try to obtain benefits. If your claim is initially denied, you can file a request for reconsideration, and if that fails, an administrative law hearing. Keep in mind that you will need to initiate the request for reconsideration or hearing within 60 days of your claim denial.
Getting Your Application Approved
As of this writing, it often takes 6 to 8 months to get an initial decision on a disability benefits application. However, it depends on the type of disability you have, how quickly the Social Security Administration can get medical evidence from your doctor or other medical source, and whether the Social Security Administration requests additional evidence, among other factors.
Most people who apply for SSDI benefits are denied the first time they apply. During the previous decade, only 20-23% of total applicants were awarded benefits at the initial claims level in any given year. However, many applicants gain benefits later through a reconsideration or hearing process. Roughly half of all applicants who appeal their initial denial ultimately receive benefits.
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, claimants with a representative are three times as likely to receive benefits as claimants without one. A social security disability attorney can improve your chances of getting approved by representing you and helping you put together a strong, legally sound application.
Once your application is approved, you typically can get benefits starting in the sixth full calendar month after the date your disability began. You may be awarded past-due benefits if your claim isn’t approved until after that point. There is no waiting period if your disability results from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Your monthly SSDI benefit is based on your lifetime average earnings covered by Social Security.
Work With a Leading Security Disability Attorney in Western WA
The Anderson Hunter Law Firm has helped many people in western Washington successfully obtain SSDI benefits at all steps of the claims process. Our team knows what the Social Security Administration will consider when evaluating your claim, how to put together a strong claim, and how tell your story effectively. We were awarded the 2025 Bronze Best Social Security Disability Law award by voters in the Seattle Times’ Best in the PNW contest.
We will not charge a fee unless you win your case. Our payment is based on a percentage of the past-due benefits owed if you are found disabled. We won’t ask for money out of your pocket.
Request a consultation with one of our highly experienced Social Security Disability attorneys today.