Even if you think your medical condition should entitle you to get a disability benefit, when you file the application you will find it is hard to get a benefit. This is because the majority of disability benefits initial applications are denied.

This is often because the evidence provided doesn’t always prove that your medical condition is severe enough that you are unable to work for 12 months as this is a requirement for eligibility for a disability benefit.

Trying to understand the complex system managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) can be frustrating. Virtually every American is familiar with the retirement benefits that we have contributed to throughout our careers.

However, two programs called Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) often get confused with one another.

In the most fundamental descriptions, SSI represents basic income assistance to older and disabled Americans that live with limited resources.

Applying for Social Security disability benefits often turns into a long, highly frustrating process than ends up in a claim coming back denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

After years of hearing complaints from Americans that file for disability benefits, the SSA started two fast-track claim approval programs called Compassionate Allowance and Presumptive Disability. The underlying principle of the Presumptive Disability program is that the SSA presumes an applicant lives with a disability that prevents the applicant from working.

There are two types of denials in a disability benefit claim application. These are technical denials and informal denials. They are similar because both types of denial result in your disability claim being denied prior to a medical determination.

Apart from that, the two denials are in fact quite different. A technical denial requires an actual determination by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and there are also appeal rights.

Before filing an application for disability benefits it is useful to know some answers to a few common questions.

This will help you understand which type of disability benefit you are entitled to receive and how much you will gain once your disability benefit claim is finally approved. This article tells you everything you need to know about disability benefits.

If you are disabled, it is unlikely that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will spy on you like a private insurance company may. However, your claim may be re-examined and if someone alleges that you are not disabled, they may further investigate your situation. Here is a closer look at whether Social Security Disability will spy on you and what you need to do during the claims process and even after you have been awarded disability benefits.

If you have more than one disabling condition, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. You will need hard medical evidence and other supporting documentation to back up your claim and to verify how your ability to work and perform routine tasks has been affected by your medical issues. Here is a closer look at disability claim with multiple medical issues.

A musculoskeletal system disability is the most approved type of disability for a disability benefit. These disabilities, which represent 32.3 percent of disabilities approved for benefits, include damage to one’s nerves, tendons, muscles or ligaments. Examples of this type of disorder are arthritis, back pain such as scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, ruptured disc or spinal disorders and fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a complex widespread pain in the joints, tendons, muscles and soft tissues that lasts for three months or more.