The Medical-Vocational Allowance at a Glance: A Louisiana SSDI Explains Key Facts
Applying for Social Security disability insurance can often feel confusing. Many different aspects must be addressed, and there’s a host of new terminology to understand. Even if you don’t qualify for full SSDI benefits, there may be other benefits available to you. One of these is the medical-vocational allowance. This benefit is for those unable to work due to disability but whose impairments may not meet the strict Blue Book eligibility guidelines.
At Phillip M. Hendry Law, we’re experienced in working with clients in a wide range of SSDI cases. We can help walk you through the components of the SSDI application from start to finish and explain how you may qualify for other benefits like the medical-vocational allowance if you don’t meet the SSDI criteria. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how our Louisiana SSDI lawyer can help you with your claim.
Understanding Basic SSDI Eligibility
To qualify for SSDI, there are several basic eligibility items that must be met. These include:
- Having a qualifying condition that meets the SSA Blue Book criteria
- Having an impairment that is expected to last longer than one year or result in death
- Working in jobs covered by Social Security
- Earning enough work credits to be eligible for benefits
The criteria for work credits are as follows:
- You must have worked long enough and recently enough to have earned adequate credits.
- In general, individuals must have 40 work credits, 20 of which were earned within the last ten years beginning with the year your disability begins.
- There may be exceptions; for example, younger workers may require fewer credits to qualify.
The 5-Step SSDI Application Process to Determine Benefits
The SSDI application can be complicated and requires many pieces of documentation and evidence to support your claim. This is where a Louisiana SSDI lawyer can help, explaining each step of the process thoroughly and guiding you through what you need to do. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a basic process of five questions or steps that they put each application through to determine eligibility and benefits. These include:
- Financial: Evaluating current work and earnings. As of 2024, you cannot earn more than $1,550 per month from work. For those not working or working but not performing substantial gainful activity, the application will be evaluated by the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office.
- Severity: Determining the severity of your condition. To qualify for SSDI, your condition must be severe and interfere with your ability to participate in substantial gainful activity. This means it must limit your ability to complete basic work-related activities for at least 12 months.
- Impairment Criteria: Evaluating your impairment against SSA Blue Book criteria. To qualify, your condition must be among the list of medical conditions the SSA considers severe enough for disability (or be severe enough that it can equal the listing in other ways).
- Previous Work: Determining if you can do or adjust the work you did previously. If you can do work you did previously, you will not qualify for disability.
- Work Capacity: Determining whether there is other work you can perform. The SSA evaluates age, education, skills, and past work experience along with your impairment to determine if there is other work you can do.
If your claim is not approved for SSDI benefits, the SSA will start the review for the medical-vocational allowance. This can be a vital source of assistance for those who do not qualify for SSDI.
Qualifying for the Medical-Vocational Allowance
While an experienced SSDI lawyer can help increase your chances of approval, in some cases, people do not qualify for full SSDI benefits. This is where the medical-vocational allowance can come in. In basic terms, the medical-vocational allowance allows a person to receive benefits if their condition does not exactly match the SSA Blue Book listing but can be proven severe enough to prevent them from working. You may be able to qualify for the medical-vocational allowance for a variety of physical or mental conditions.
Basic Evaluation
If you do not qualify for SSDI benefits, you may still be eligible for benefits under the medical-vocational allowance. If this is the case, the SSA will evaluate your residual functioning capacity (RFC) to determine whether you can perform past work or any other work. The RFC measures a variety of functioning capabilities, including physical and mental limitations and vocational skills. The RFC is evaluated in steps four and five of the SSDI process.
Grid Rules for Applicants Over 50
For applicants over 50, the SSA uses a special set of grids to determine whether they qualify for the medical-vocational allowance. These grids combine age, functional limitations, transferable skills, education, and other factors to measure eligibility.
How Phillip M. Hendry Law Can Help You Fight for SSDI or Medical-Vocational Allowance Benefits
The application process can be lengthy and complicated, but you don’t have to do it alone. Phillip M. Hendry Law has over 30 years of experience walking clients through SSDI claims. Even if you don’t qualify for full SSDI benefits, having a skilled SSDI attorney on your side can help you navigate the application, avoid common mistakes, and potentially qualify for the medical-vocational allowance. Phillip M. Hendry Law will work with you every step of the way and help you fight for the benefits you deserve.