Chronic illnesses can be life-changing and may result in job loss or reduced wages, depending on the severity of the symptoms. You may not have to deal with lost income if your chronic illness qualifies you for disability insurance. Disability benefits can replace lost income and can be used as long as your condition meets the definition of a disability. Talk to a Pennsylvania disability attorney to find out more.

Disability Insurance Eligibility for Chronic Illnesses

Exploring the disability benefits eligibility criteria may help you figure out if your chronic illness qualifies you for disability insurance. First, the definition of a disability is a mental or physical condition that is severe. A condition is severe if the condition is expected to last at least one year or lead to a premature death.

Do not panic if your chronic illness does not meet this definition of a disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) can also base your qualification for disability benefits on a medical equivalence. A medical equivalence measures how many functional limits are caused by your disability.

Functional limitations and severity of the illness can be determined by various medical approaches. These include diagnosing, medical assessments, clinical judgment by a medical or mental health professional, and documentation of symptoms. You can also document how impairments caused by the illness impact your daily activities.

The SSA offers Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as their disability benefits programs. SSDI requires enough work credits while SSI is offered to those who do not make enough monthly income. In either case, the chronic illness must have a significant negative impact on your ability to earn an income.

To do this, the SSA will consider past, current, and future work abilities. If you still do not qualify, then private disability insurance could be a different option. Each private disability insurance company has its own eligibility criteria. 

Continuing Eligibility for Disability Benefits 

In most cases, as long as a condition is a chronic illness, people will continue to receive disability benefits. The SSA performs continuing disability benefits eligibility checks by law. This means that for certain disabilities, the SSA may re-evaluate someone’s eligibility for benefits every six months, and for other disabilities, every seven years.

An illness that is expected to be chronic and not improve may only be evaluated every seven years. However, if any improvements in your chronic illness occur, then the SSA may re-evaluate your need for disability benefits sooner. Maintaining disability benefits is based on whether your condition continues to impair work performance.

Consider contacting a Pennsylvania disability lawyer to learn more. A lawyer can help you explore ways to apply for and maintain disability benefits.

Call Edelstein & Nelson Today

Applying for and maintaining disability insurance can be challenging at times. Feel free to ask a Pennsylvania delayed insurance benefits lawyer about what your legal options are if your disability benefits are delayed. Start by contacting Edelstein & Nelson today at (800) 300-0909 for a consultation about your disability benefits options. Our legal team can help you increase your chances of receiving disability benefits.