How Do I Know if I Qualify for Social Security Disability in Ohio?

The criteria for receiving Disability benefits depends on what type of benefits you apply for. If you want to know if you qualify for Social Security Disability in Ohio, you can speak with our Columbus Social Security Disability lawyers about your situation and review the options that may be available to you.

Our legal team can explain the qualifications for each type of Disability and ensure your application meets all of the criteria. Once you are ready to file, we can help you prepare your claim, submit your application, and fight for the benefits you deserve.

Finding Out if You Qualify for Disability Benefits in Ohio

You want to know if you qualify for benefits before you go through the time and trouble of filing an application. The best way to know if you qualify for Social Security Disability in Ohio is by consulting with a variety of sources before you get started, including:

• Your doctors: Your primary care physician is familiar with your condition(s). An official diagnosis from them can tell you whether or not your condition is disabling according to the Social Security Administration’s standards and, if so, how long it may keep you from working.
• The Social Security Administration’s website: Their official site includes the most up-to-date and detailed information about how you can qualify for benefits.
• Our Disability lawyers: We are familiar with how the Social Security Disability system works. While we cannot make the process go any faster, we can complete and file your application without errors and make sure you have all of the documentation you need to prove your eligibility.

Requirements for Disability in Ohio may change from year to year, so it is a good idea to check with multiple sources before you submit your application.

Each Disability Program Has Its Own Strict Technical Qualifications

Before a Disability examiner ever looks at your file to see if you suffer from a qualifying impairment, your case will need to meet all the technical qualifications. Staff from the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office will check to ensure you meet these qualifications.

You may apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or, in rare cases, both. Each program has its own technical qualifications, so if you do not qualify for one, you may qualify for the other.

Qualifications for Social Security Disability Insurance

Social Security Disability Insurance is a Disability program for workers whose health now prevents them from working and earning a sustainable wage. To qualify for SSDI, you must:

• Have enough work credits (20 credits, or five years’ worth of work, is generally the minimum) earned from previous employment
• Have an earned income—money earned from a job or contract position—that is lower than the current Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level (as of 2024, this is $1,550 per month for most applicants)
• Have a condition that will prevent you from working for at least 12 months and/or more than likely result in your death

Your benefit amount depends on your average wages over the last few years you worked. The formula is complex, but those who earned more during their working years generally get paid more benefits, up to the program limits.

Qualifications for Supplemental Security Income

Supplemental Security Income is a type of monthly benefit you may qualify for if you are disabled and struggling financially. There is no work credit requirement for SSI, but qualifying for SSI is often difficult. You must have very little household income and few assets to qualify.

SSI benefits are a flat amount each month, and you do not earn more based on previous jobs or other factors.

Qualifying Based on Your Medical Impairments or Mental Health Condition

The SSA publishes a resource called the Blue Book that outlines hundreds of diagnoses and impairments, along with the necessary evidence to prove you qualify for Disability based on each entry. To qualify, you will need to not only meet these standards but ensure the examiner handling your application has access to the necessary medical evidence to support your claim.

When you apply for Disability benefits, you must include as much evidence as possible—especially objective evidence, such as lab test results—to support your claim. The Disability examiner will use this information to evaluate the validity of your application for Disability benefits. This could include:

• Medical imaging, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scan results
• Notes about treatments and outcomes
• Any documentation of your symptoms, diagnosis, and prognosis
• Documentation of any related impairments
• Opinions from qualified medical professionals

Qualifying for Benefits Based on Residual Functional Capacity

You can also qualify for Disability benefits through a residual functional capacity (RFC) evaluation, which allows the SSA to look at the overall effect your health has on your ability to work. Even if you do not meet the criteria in the Blue Book, you could qualify because of a medical condition plus chronic pain, medication side effects, or symptoms of another condition. To get your RFC, the Disability examiner may:

• Evaluate your abilities based on your medical record and the information in your application
• Ask your doctor to complete an evaluation
• Ask you to attend a consultative examination and have that doctor evaluate you

If your RFC evaluation finds you cannot work any job and earn a sustainable wage, you will likely get approved for Disability benefits.

Our Attorneys Can Help You Navigate the Social Security Disability Application Process

Not only can Berger and Green’s Disability attorneys explain your qualifications and let you know if you qualify for Social Security Disability in Ohio, we can also help you file your application. If you have received a denial, we can help you with the appeals process. This is a very common occurrence, even for applicants who qualify for Disability.

Call Berger and Green today for a free consultation. We can fight for the Disability benefits you deserve so you do not have to do all of the hard legal work by yourself.