Disability Benefit Qualifications for Car Accidents
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July 20, 2018
If you have been injured as result of a car accident, you may qualify to obtain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits to help cover expenses for your injuries.
Our Phoenix Social Security Disability lawyerscan help you pursue benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) if you have become disabled after a car crash.
Contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation.
SSA Requirements for Disability
The SSA has specific requirements you must meet in order to qualify for benefits:
- Your condition must be severe and greatly limit your ability to perform basic work tasks such as sitting, walking, lifting, standing and remembering information.
- Your disability must significantly affect (or be expected to affect) your ability to do work for at least 12 months or result in your death.
- Your disability must be found in the SSA’s list of disabling conditions. However, if your condition is not on the list, you may still qualify for benefits if the SSA determines you are disabled.
- Your medical impairment must prevent you from doing any work you have done in the past or any other type of work. The SSA will determine residual functional capacity (RFC) to decide whether or not there is any sort of work you could still perform such as simple, unskilled jobs.
In addition to these criteria, you must also have earned enough Social Security work credits from previous wages or self-employment income. The number of credits required to be eligible for SSDI depends on your age at the time you become disabled.
In most cases, you will need 40 credits to be eligible for benefits. Twenty of these credits must have been earned in the past 10 years, ending with the year your disability started. If you are younger with less work experience, you may be able to qualify for SSDI with fewer work credits due to age.
Injuries That May Qualify for SSDI Benefits
If you suffer from any of the following car accident injuries, you may qualify for SSDI benefits:
- Whiplash: You may be eligible for SSDI benefits if you have suffered whiplash in a car accident and your MRI shows visible neck and/or spinal injuries.
- Broken bones: If a broken bone prevents you from performing your job duties, you may be eligible for SSDI benefits.
- Burns:Burns from a car accident can prevent you from moving body parts and limit their function.
- Back injuries: New or worsening of existing back injuries caused by an accident may make you eligible for benefits. These include nerve root compression, lumbar spinal stenosis and spinal cord injuries.
- Gastrointestinal bleeding: Severe bleeding in the esophagus, intestines or stomach requiring multiple blood transfusions may qualify for SSDI benefits.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A TBI can limit your ability to complete work-related tasks and job functions, which may qualify you for SSDI benefits.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): PTSD can cause long lasting effects that prevent you from working. With a proper diagnosis made by a psychiatrist, you may qualify for benefits.
- Anxiety or depression: If anxiety, depression or other mental health issues resulting from your accident prevent you from working, you may be eligible for benefits.
- Multiple injuries: If you have suffered from multiple injuries that greatly prevent or inhibit your ability to do your job, you may qualify for SSDI.
Get Legal Help Today
If your car accident injuries have caused you to suffer a disability, you may be eligible for SSDI benefits that will help cover your expenses. Our Social Security Disability attorneys at Phillips Law Group are here to assist you in filing for benefits with the SSA and supporting your claim.
Request a free, no obligation consultation today and learn how we can help. Our firm charges no upfront fees and are only paid if we help recover fair compensation for you.
Call 1-800-706-3000 or fill out ourFree Case Evaluation formnow.
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Although my accident was fortunately not a major one, The Phillips Law Group AZ treated it as such. Their staff, specifically Mr Juan Roque was very professional, courteous and most importantly very informative. Mr Roque's attentive service was phenomenal and I highly recommend this firm!
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I’ve been working at Phillips Law Group for nearly four years and I can confidently say this is the best personal injury firm in Arizona to work for. The firm is the best for numerous reasons but to start, Phillips Law Group gives employees opportunities for promotions and growth. I started working within the settlement department, moved to a paralegal assistant and grew to be a pre-litigation paralegal with my own case load. Each attorney I have worked for is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and easy to talk to. Secondly, I love how Phillips Law shows appreciation for employees. They host Friday Zoom Huddles giving out PTO, goodie bags, special shout outs, bonuses and gift cards. They also host extravagant holiday parties and fun contests during the Holidays! Lastly, the firm cares about giving back to the community, which is a trait I value as well. It’s rewarding to see a fast paced firm taking time out of their busy day to pay it forward. I would highly recommend working at Phillips Law Group!
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It’s an Honor and a Privilege to work for a company that cares about its employees and clients for 12 years. I’ve seen Management go out of their way to help someone whether it’s a personal matter or work related. I am also reminded of many occasions where a Client needed urgent help and we as a Team were able to get the person immediate assistance. At Phillips Law we make that happen through Teamwork and a dedication to our profession. I’ve had numerous jobs in several other fields, those were just jobs. This is a home. Many of us have been here for quite a few years, it feels like one large extended family.
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