Hello Purplebill, I need your advice! - Disabilities Message Board

etIII · 08-13-2004, 04:51 AM

Hello Purplebill!

Could you help me with an interesting question? I recieved a response to my Social Security disability claim that says "We have found that you meet our medical rules." O.K., but on the third page they say, "We have not decided whether you meet our non-medical rules. We will make that decision soon. Then we will send you a second letter explaining our decision." Could you shed some light on what they mean by 'non-medical' rules?

Thank You!
Ed

Kissa · 08-13-2004, 12:55 PM

Hopefully PB will answer you as he is so well rounded in this area.

My guess however would be the non medical criteria would be a few things:
Are you still working ?
If you applied for SSI is your income at or below the guideline to meet eligability ?
If you applied for SSDI do you have enough work credits accrued to qualify for SSDI ?

etIII · 08-13-2004, 02:17 PM

Hello Kissa,

No I haven't worked in quite a long time due to Major Depression. Altho' they're not determining on that aspect of disability because of alchohol dependance. The other disability that did meet the requirements was the slipped disk with nerve root compromise. Also, other areas of the spine which limit my ability to perform construction work. A Neurologist and a Neurosurgen evaluated me for that. Surgery is postponed until further testing has been done for possible diabetes. I know I have Hypo-glycemia and Hypo-thyroidism, yet they say, "those are amendable to medication." I've been looking through the SS Blue book and haven't seen the full description of 'non-medical'. From 1992-1998 I worked for the state and Social Security wasn't withheld. I'm figuring that may be one item. Another item may be the eight years I was in the U.S. Navy. That leaves approx. 8-9 years of civilian work.

The whole process of my application has been handled very well and professional as far as I'm concerned. They've explained each step along the way and tried to stick to the time-line that they set for each step. They say that they will make a decision soon. Probably this next week. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a favorable decision!

Thanks Kissa!

Ed

Kissa · 08-13-2004, 02:28 PM

Hope it all works out for ya. Again seems it you met the medical part no problem so that's great, it's a matter of the technical things as I listed above. Now one question does come to mind and I hope that Bill can clarify for us, those with government jobs aren't eligable for social security but I am not sure if military is one of them. I know general workers have their own plan or at least I believe they do (I have several family members who work for the FBI). So maybe they just need to clear all that up.
Might be an issue of what are your valid work credits up until you applied. If you don't have enough then they will put you on SSI instead which is at a much lower rate generally.

Sounds like you aren't going to have any problems though and I"m sure if you didn't qualify to begin with in terms of work then they would of told you up front so don't stress it and let us know when you get your approval!!

Purplebill · 08-13-2004, 05:08 PM

Which non-medical requirements apply depends on whether we are discussing Title II benefits (SSDI) or Title XVI benefits (SSI).

Title II requirements look to whether or not you have worked enough quarters that were paid into the Social Security program. The general rule of thumb is that you need to work 20 out of the last 40 quarters prior to your disability onset. This may not apply if you are a younger worker.

Title XVI has asset and monetary limitations as SSI is more of a welfare program. You can only own one house that you live in, a car worth $4,500, $2,000 or less in cash assets and $2,000 in property.