What does SSA mean by Disability?
It is important that you understand how Social Security defines “disability.” That’s because other programs have different definitions for disability. Some programs pay for partial disability or short-term disability. Social Security does not. Disability under Social Security is based on your inability to work. You will be considered disabled if you cannot do work you did before and SSA decides that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s). Your disability also must last or be expected to last for at least a year or to result in death. This is a strict definition of disability. The program assumes that working families have access to other resources to provide support during periods of short term disabilities, including workers’ compensation, insurance, savings and investments. How does SSA determine disability? You should be familiar with the process SSA uses to determine if you are disabled. It’s a step by step process involving five questions. They are: A
