APPLYING FOR DISABILITY OVER 50: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW You never planned for health problems to stop you from working before you’re ready to retire. You’d rather stay on the job, earning an income. If you’re over 50 and struggling with bad health, however, Social Security has special rules that could help you get disability benefits and regain a sense of control over your life.
HOW TO PROVE DISABILITY TO SOCIAL SECURITY No matter your age, you must show Social Security that you meet these fundamental rules to win disability benefits:
1.
You CAN’T CONTINUE IN YOUR JOB, and the reason is
SEVERE HEALTH PROBLEMS.
2.
Your health also makes it IMPOSSIBLE TO ADAPT TO DIFFERENT WORK.
3.
Your medical condition WILL LAST AT LEAST A YEAR, or could lead to death.
WHAT CHANGES WHEN YOU’RE OVER 50? When you reach age 50, Social Security is more likely to conclude that you meet the three requirements. Specifically, they’ll say you’re less likely to be able to adjust to a new job. You will fall into one of these age groups:
YOUNGER PERSON, 18-49: You must prove to Social Security NOT ONLY THAT YOU CAN’T DO YOUR OLD JOB, but you CAN’T DO ANY JOB THAT EXISTS.
CLOSELY APPROACHING ADVANCED AGE, 50-54: Being UNABLE TO DO YOUR MOST RECENT JOB may be enough to win benefits. You face LESS OF A BURDEN TO PROVE you can’t switch to another job.
PERSON OF ADVANCED AGE, 55 & UP: Social Security becomes EVEN MORE LENIENT in deciding that you can’t work at all.
HOW TO APPLY THE SPECIAL RULES You must present your application for benefits—or your appeal of a denial— properly to take advantage of these special rules. You’ll need to include work history, details of your medical conditions and a clear picture of how your health prevents you from working. In San Jose and around the Bay Area, you can get help from Angelina Valle & Associates. Angelina Valle has decades of experience helping Californians win benefits.
CALL US TODAY! 408-881-0200 www.valle-law.com