REQUIREMENTS FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS IN ALABAMA

A majority of Alabama's workers are covered by federal disability benefits administered by the US Social Security Administration (SSA).*  To receive benefits, a person must prove that he/she is no longer able to work at substantial gainful activity.  Here are the basic requirements.

1)  You must not presently be engaged in substantial gainful activity (full-time work).
2)  You must have a severe and medically determinable impairment.
3)  The impairment must have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least 12 consecutive months or end in death.

In general terms, you must prove that you are unable to perform any of your past relevant work (PRW), i.e., work you have done within the past fifteen years.  Unless you are age 50 or over, or meet a Listing, or meet one of the medical-vocational guidelines, you will also need to prove that you cannot perform any other work which exists in substantial numbers in the national economy.  Proving that you have a severe impairment (number 2 above) will require that you have medical evidence:  doctors' records, laboratory tests, MRI or imaging studies, etc.  It isn't enough merely to claim that you have pain or other severe symptoms.

 In addition to medical evidence, many other important factors go into a Social Security disability decision.  Factors will include your age, education, past work history and skills.  An important factor will be your residual functional capacity--the maximum that you are able to do, even with your impairments or medical conditions.

In 2015, about 70 percent of Alabama applicants will be denied disability benefits at the initial application.  They will be required to file an appeal and attend a hearing to have their denial reconsidered.
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The Forsythe Firm is not affiliated with the US Social Security Administration or any other agency of the U.S. Government.



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