Sleep apnea isn’t listed in the Social Security Blue Book, meaning there’s no set list of criteria to tell a person suffering from this condition whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) will consider them disabled. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get SSD benefits in connection with sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
This is a medical condition that causes people to stop breathing temporarily while sleeping. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when airways are blocked during sleep. Another type, central sleep apnea, is far less common. With this type of condition, breathing stops because the brain isn’t sending the right message. There’s also a third type that occasionally emerges as a result of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.
Receiving SSD for Sleep Apnea and Resulting Conditions
One way someone suffering from this condition may qualify for SSD benefits would be if the condition triggered or worsened a condition that is listed in the Blue Book. For example, there is a Blue Book listing for “vascular insult to the brain,” which includes stroke. If you’ve had a stroke triggered by sleep apnea and meet the Blue Book criteria, you may be eligible for SSD. Similarly, cardiovascular disorders resulting from or made worse by this condition may qualify you.
If you don’t meet the criteria for a listed condition, you may still be eligible for disability benefits for this condition, or for a combination of conditions that includes sleep apnea. To determine whether or not you are disabled by non-listed conditions, the SSA assesses “residual functional capacity.” In simple terms, that’s the work you still have the capacity to do even considering your medical limitations.
To make this determination, the SSA uses a grid that takes into account your age, your educational level, the skill level of your past employment, and whether you have skills that are transferable to work you can do with your medical limitations.
Sleep Apnea SSD Claims Aren’t Simple
With no Blue Book listing and a range of possibly-connected disorders that may or may not have their own listings, the success or failure of your claim for SSD benefits may hinge on how your claim is presented and whether you’ve assembled the right evidence.
At Disability Help Group, our advocates have a solid understanding of what the SSA is looking for and how to put together the strongest claim possible. To learn more about how we can help, call (800) 800-3332 right now, or contact us here now.
SSD isn’t need-based, and the amount of benefits you receive each month depends on your past earnings. That means people across a broad income spectrum receive SSD. Some may have pensions or investment income in addition to their SSD checks, or own significant property. Others may be completely or mostly dependent on their SSD income. In January of 2024, the average SSD monthly benefit was $1,537.03.
Fortunately, other types of assistance, including housing assistance, may be available to SSD recipients.
Does the SSA Offer Housing Assistance?
The SSA doesn’t directly offer housing assistance. However, the SSA’s determination that you are disabled may qualify you for other types of housing assistance.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers information about disability rights in housing–both the right to be free from discrimination and what type of accessibility accommodations are required. Hud also has two programs to make housing more available to low-income households that include a disabled adult.
Both of these programs fall under Section 811. The programs are similar, and allow the disabled person and their household to choose among participating rental options that have available space. However, income limits differ. Housing under one program is available only to extremely low-income households, meaning that their household income is at or below 30% of the median income in the area. The other accepts very low-income households, who may have earnings up to 50% of the median.
While the HUD programs are the most widespread, your state or even local government may have additional assistance available for people with disabilities. In other words, while the SSA itself doesn’t offer housing assistance, there is housing assistance available to those who have been determined disabled and have low income.
Get Help with Your SSD Claim
Managing an SSD claim and other issues such as finding the right housing assistance can be overwhelming. One of the best things you can do for yourself as an SSD applicant is to get knowledgeable help with your SSD application. Working with an experienced disability advocate not only takes some of the pressure off, but can also prevent innocent mistakes and omissions that could seriously delay your claim.
Call us today at (800) 800-8992 or fill out our contact form here to learn more about how we can help.
If you’re applying for Social Security disability (SSD) benefits, you may know that getting approved can be an uphill battle. While the numbers differ a little from year to year and state to state, well over half of SSD applications are denied on initial consideration. That means most will have to start winding their way through the SSD appeals process.
The further into the SSD appeals process you get, the more complicated the procedures. For example, if your request for reconsideration fails (as most do), you move on to a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). The earlier in the process, you get an experienced disability advocate on your side, the better. But, the internet is a sea of options. How do you know who to work with?
What to Consider in a Social Security Disability Advocate
There are several factors to consider when choosing an SSD benefits advocate. Some are general and some may be specific to your circumstances. Some key considerations include:
Experience. One of the key benefits of working with an SSD advocate is that an experienced advocate will know the process inside out and will have a thorough understanding of the criteria, what type of evidence the Social Security Administration (SSA) is looking for, and how best to present it. Make sure your advocate has that experience.
Specifics. Confidence is great, but it’s not enough. Don’t let an advocate slide by with generalities about how confident they are and how many successes they’ve had. Ask questions about what they see as the strengths and weaknesses of your specific claim and what they can do to give you the best chance of approval.
Knowledge of your case type. Some types of SSD claims are more common than others. If you have a non-listed condition, a mix of several conditions, a special circumstance that might qualify you to have your case fast-tracked, make sure your advocate knows how to handle your type of claim.
Accessibility. Skills and knowledge are critical, but it’s also important that you feel comfortable talking with your advocate, asking questions, and sharing personal information. Choose someone who listens to your questions and takes the time to explain in a way that’s easy to understand.
Start with a Free Disability Case Review
When you schedule a free case review with Disability Help Group, you’ll get more than an assessment of your claim. You’ll also get the opportunity to talk with us and ask questions about our qualifications, experience, and commitment to helping you get the benefits you deserve.
Schedule your free case review now by calling (800) 800-3332 right now, or contact us here now.
When most people think about qualifying for Social Security disability benefits (SSD), they’re focused on whether or not the Social Security Administration (SSA) will consider them disabled. While medical qualification is required, it’s not the only factor.
There are strict non-medical requirements for SSD eligibility, and there are other non-medical factors that may be considered in determining whether you meet the SSA’s definition of disabled.
Strict Non-Medical Eligibility Requirements
Sufficient Social Security Work Credits
SSD is a disability insurance program, not a public benefit. That means that you can only qualify if you have paid the required “insurance premiums.” For most types of work, these contributions are withheld from your paycheck. If you’re self-employed, they come from your self-employment taxes.
How many work credits you need to qualify for SSD depends on your age at the time you become disabled. Most workers will need 40 work credits (about 10 years of work) across their careers, and 20 work credits (about 5 years of work) in the 10 years leading up to their disability. But, the calculation isn’t as straightforward as it sounds, because credits are based on earnings, not time worked. So, for example, a high-earning worker might earn all four work credits for the year in the first quarter. On the other hand, a low-earning part-time worker might work most or all of the year without accruing the full four credits.
The SSA keeps records and may determine that you have sufficient work credits without needing any information from you. But, if they say you don’t, you’ll want to review the work history they have for you–mistakes do happen.
Not Exceeding the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Cut-off
In 2024, that means if you can earn no more than $1,550/month if you’re not blind. For blind applicants, the SGA cut-off is $2,590/month. This applies only to earned income. Income from trusts, investments, gifts from family, and other non-work income is not counted.
Other Non-Medical Considerations
The SSA will also require certain non-medical information from you, including your photo ID, Social Security number, and birth certificate.
Depending on your case, the SSA may or may not consider factors such as your work history and educational level in determining whether you are disabled. That’s because if your condition doesn’t meet or equal a listing in the Social Security, the SSA looks at other factors to help determine whether you can engage in SGA. That includes things like skills from past work, your educational background, and your age.
A Disability Help Group Advocate Can Help
There’s a lot to think about when applying for SSD, and innocent mistakes could result in an unnecessary denial. Our experienced disability benefits advocates have deep knowledge of what’s required for a successful SSD application. To learn more about how we can help, call (800) 800-3332 or fill out our contact form right now.
Depression is a common mental health condition and is not always disabling. When the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers a Social Security disability (SSD) claim based on depression, they are looking to see whether your condition is severe enough to prevent the applicant from engaging in substantial gainful activity.
Determining Disability Based on Depression
The first step in an SSD disability determination is to assess whether the disability meets or equals a condition listed in the Social Security Blue Book. Depression is a listed condition. That means the SSA will first compare your medical records and other information about your symptoms and limitations with the listing criteria.
To fulfill the listing criteria, the applicant must have at least five of a longer list of symptoms, which includes:
Depressed mood
Diminished interest in nearly all activities
Appetite disturbance with weight change
Sleep disturbance
Psychomotor agitation or retardation
Decreased energy
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Difficulting concentrating or thinking
Thoughts of death or suicide
In addition, the applicant must meet one of two additional criteria. These are:
Show extreme limitation of one or marked limitation of two of the following:
Ability to understand, remember, and apply information
Ability to interact with others
Ability to concentrate, persist, or maintain pace
Ability to adapt or to manage oneself
OR
Show all of the following:
A medically documented history of the condition existing for at least two years
Ongoing medical care, therapy, and/or a structured environment that reduces symptoms
Minimal capacity to adapt to changes in environment
Meeting the listing criteria is the easiest way to qualify for SSD benefits for depression, but it’s not the only one. When a disability benefits applicant doesn’t meet the listed criteria or is seeking benefits for a condition that isn’t listed, In this situation, the SSA considers factors they don’t take into account if you meet a listed condition, such as your age, what you’ve previously done for a living, whether your skills are transferable to work you can do, and even your educational level.
Give Yourself the Edge in Applying for Disability Benefits for Depression.
Since depression may or may not qualify you for SSD benefits, it’s important to know exactly what the SSA is looking for and how to provide that information to them. Af Disability Help Group, our advocates have extensive experience helping people like you pursue disability benefits claims, requests for reconsideration, and appeals. To learn more about how we can help, call us today at (800) 800-3332, or fill out our contact form here.
