Brandenburg Social Security: Who Determines If I Am Disabled?
If you are disabled due to a mental or physical condition or a combination of the two, you may qualify for federal disability benefits. Your dependents may also be entitled to receive disability benefits, which would increase the total amount your family receives each month. Social Security Disability benefits are available to individuals whose condition is expected to last more than 12 months or who have a terminal condition.
However, the first step you must take to receive Social Security Disability benefits is to apply for those benefits. Our experienced Social Security attorneys at Musselwhite Meinhart & Staples, PSC have the experience and knowledge needed to help you through the claims process so that you can receive the assistance you need to provide for yourself and your family.
State Agencies and the Disability Process
Most individuals assume that the Social Security Administration determines whether an individual is disabled for the purpose of receiving benefits. However, the Social Security Administration utilizes state agencies to determine if an applicant is disabled rather than handling this part of the process in-house. Each state has its own agency that handles the disability determination. In Kentucky, the agency that determines if you are disabled is the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office.
The DDS office does not accept applications for Social Security Disability benefits. Applications must be filed with the Social Security Administration (SSA). A disability claims examiner is assigned to your case to begin the process of determining if you are medical disabled, either mentally or physically. The DDS office only makes a determination as to whether you are medically disabled to receive Social Security Disability benefits. If the DDS determines you are medically disabled, your case will then return to the SSA for it to determine if you meet all of the technical requirements, in addition to being medically disabled, to receive monthly disability benefits.
As part of the process, the disability claims examiner requests copies of your medical records to review in order to determine what medical condition you have and the severity of that medical condition. If your condition is on the official Social Security disability list of medical conditions, you are automatically considered medically disabled. The examiner will forward your file back to the SSA for further processing.
If your medical condition is not on the SSA list, the examiner must determine if your medical condition or impairment prevents you from returning to work at your prior job or another type of job on a full time basis. The medical-vocational assessment evaluates your abilities to determine if you can perform any type of work with or without additional training. In most cases, if your medical condition prevents you from working, the examiner will determine you are medically disabled and he will forward your file back to the SSA for further processing.
Contact an Experienced Kentucky Social Security Disability Attorney
We’ve Helped Thousands of KY Families, we can help you!
The Social Security attorneys of Musselwhite Meinhart & Staples, PSC have over 50 years of combined legal experience. If you are having trouble with your Social Security disability claim, we can help you. We represent clients in throughout Elizabethtown, Radcliff and Elizabethtown, Vine Grove, Louisville, Brandenburg and throughout central Kentucky from our office in Radcliff and Elizabethtown.
Contact us at our Radcliff and Elizabethtown Office in Hardin County at (270) 351-6032 or at 1-800-754-HELP to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys. You may also contact our office through our convenient online contact form.