I'm trying to figure out if I should attempt to get disabilty benefits, I know nothing really about the process and hope someone here might know if it would be a good idea for me to try. First, Im a 21/m and was in good heath up until 9/1/2005. Ive worked in a grocery store most of my life, stocking mostly, and also as a waiter. In fact on I was about to start a job as a grocery stocker on the very day that i got hurt. So now, to the injury, I was riding a bicycle in a park and flipped off and landed on my left arm,wrist, and suffered a compound fracture of both forearm bones. So I had emergency surgery and had two plates put in. Fast forward 6 months later and basically the doctor says it hasnt healed (Doctor botched it I think) and ill need another operation. I was living on my own at the time of the accident but have since had to move into my parents home since i have not been able to work or pay bills Just had an additional surgery on 6/2 and early xrays dont look all that promissing and doctor said it may be a long while if it doesnt heal up this time before they could do anything else. So im trying to figure out if disability benefits could be an option, i cant figure out any job i could do at this time(I attempted to work at a clothing store but couldnt even manage to do that) So are benefits only for people with serious life threatening illnesses or could they be for someone like me, who cant work at any job that i have experience in. Any info on the subject would be appeciated!

I would go ahead and apply. It's not only for people that are seriously injured and are never expected to recover. As long as you can't engage in "gainful" or "substantial" work, you can be elegible for disability. It's also if your disability is expected to last one year or more.

You would have to prove what you've said with medical records and all, but you'll never know unless you try :)

Since I was born disabled (with a bone and joint disease), I was able to get SSD without needing work credits because I applied before I turned 22. Here's more info on that: http://ssa.gov/dibplan/dacpage.shtml You might not qualify because you have been working and might be making too much money.

Here's how they determine if you're disabled: http://ssa.gov/disability/step4and5.htm

Since I was born disabled (with a bone and joint disease), I was able to get SSD without needing work credits because I applied before I turned 22. Here's more info on that: http://ssa.gov/dibplan/dacpage.shtml You might not qualify because you have been working and might be making too much money.


What Fibbles is reffering to is only if your parents are currently on social security disability or are deceased. It does not apply to individuals who parents are living not on SSD.

You can still qualify for SSD if you have enough work credits, age and wages will not matter. Because you are so young you only need a few quarters at most and probably already have those if you've worked regularly in the last year.

I agree that the only way to know if you qualify is to try. You might also want to speak to a Social Security Disability Attorney, they too would have a good feel for if you would actually win the case (though it could take years). The important thing is do not give up if you get denied the first time, this is all too common. Often you have to fight for a long period of time and many denials before being finally approved. Having a good lawyer will.

Thanks for the responces, one thing about the process that i dont understand completly is why it takes so long, and why they like to deny you the first time you try. If your trying for it, most likely you need money now, what exactly do they expect you to do for money in the meantime if you cant work? 3 years from now i would hope i could be working, i could use the benefits now not 3 years down the line. Also, when you get approved, are you approved for life? or do they check in with you every year or so to make sure you are still disabled?

Not everyone gets denied the first time. I got denied twice and the process took about 11 months. My husband on the other hand just got approved, he applied in April and was approved after only 3 months. I honestly believe a portion of it is the medical documentation, this is probably THE most important thing to have.

My husabands doctor did outstanding documentation and did an outstanding job filling out the appropriate forms. We didn't even have a lawyer. I was actually pretty shocked. Add to that I think he had a great case worker unlike the one I had in the past.

I think the other part of it is human factor. While it never makes any sense for me if someone has qualified conditions and can not do any type of work why they are denied. I think that perhaps the person reviewing the case plays factor to it. If they aren't attentive or understanding perhaps one ends up in the denied file. It's only a guess but it often seems like that.

The reason it takes so long is honestly dependant on the State and county you live in. There was a big cut in staff a while ago and some states can not handle the amount of cases they are given so they are done in order recieved.

Where I live, Ohio, apparently the Columbus office moves fast because 3 months was pretty quick if you ask me, but I've read where others have had to wait 6 months and longer just for their original decision.

Thanks for clarifying Kissa! I guess I didn't realize that I/you had/have to have a parent either on SSD already or deceased, and I don't remember reading that when I was reading about this on the SSD webby yesterday :confused: . I was tagging along with my mom and sister to the social security office after my father died, so they could get my sister's social security checks set up (she was 16) when a disabled woman that worked there told my mom that I should apply ASAP. I don't remember how long it took, but I was accepted right away and after the 5 month wait, I was given my first check.

I have excellent medical documentation of my problems dating back to when my mom first knew there was something wrong (she wanted to build something up when the doctors all said I was "within the bounds of normal" when she knew I was not) up until I was accepted and up until today. It's great to have something to back you up when you run into a doctor that wants to tell you there's nothing wrong (and even though I have easily spotted physical deformities, I've had doctor's tell me I might be imagining the problems :rolleyes: ).

Everyone who paid in FICA taxes enough quarters to qualify can certainly apply for SSDI.
I have no idea if your disability is enough to get it or not.
I don't know if you have enough quarters either.
I do think the disability would have to be considered sort of permanent.

BUT I want to HIGHLY suggest that you look up the phone number for the nearest Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (VR). It would be under State Gov't agencies.

VR is so good for many young people who have a disability that gets in the way of thier current professon but by being retrained/educated they can do other jobs.

Yes, VR can even send you to a 4 year collage sometimes (and they pay for it or tell you how to get financial help, like Pell Grants. Or a Vocational school..
consider what you could physically do if you had the education to do it?

BUT I warn you to AVOID school loans like the black plague. VR does not have to help financially if you take out a school loan. You pay back school loans but you don't pay back VR help or Pell Grants. so AVOID the "loans" of any kind if VR says they can arrange education.

You are at a perfect age to benifit from thier help with education.
The future lasts a long time.
You don't want to spend your life working at stocking in a grocery store anyway so take advantage of the financial educational help VR can possibly provide.

I do not know if you are disabled enough to qualify for VR help but I HIGHLY recommend you call, get an appointment and go find out A.S.A.P.

Also if you can tell SS that you are currently working with VR to help you have some kind of future it can help your case for disability benifits.

I wish you luck.