Disability benefits help support those who can not work due to serious medical challenges. Some people have private disability insurance. Many people who work could be eligible for federal disability benefits. The standards that apply to government disability benefits are quite strict.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) looks carefully at every application for disability benefits. Those seeking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits typically cannot work. They must have a condition that leaves them completely disabled. The standard for total disability is very high. Workers have to prove that they cannot work any sort of job in order to qualify for SSDI benefits.
Many people dealing with conditions that could end their careers can still work other jobs. Someone with a brain injury who can no longer work in accounting could work as a greeter at the supermarket. They might not be eligible for benefits despite their debilitating condition. The SSA expects people to work if they can. Yet, if an applicant is a blue-collar employee, sometimes the rules can be a bit more lenient because the SSA has a special rule for worn-out blue-collar employees.
When are the standards different?
A blue-collar employee can qualify for SSDI if they can no longer work their current job. The SSA may not force them to take a different, low-paid job. To qualify for that lenient consideration, the blue-collar applicant must meet certain standards. Typically, they need to have performed at least 35 years of arduous physical labor. They must have a medical condition that prevents them from continuing their current line of employment. They must also have a marginal education.
The SSA recognizes that blue-collar work causes physical consequences for employees. They may suffer the painful signs of aging earlier than other professionals. They sacrifice their physical well-being for wages throughout their working years. As such, blue-collar workers who cannot maintain their employment because of health challenges may be eligible for SSDI benefits. That remains true even if they could potentially work a different job.
The sooner they have help, the better their chances of getting SSDI benefits. Learning more about unique Social Security rules can help employees pursue the support they deserve while dealing with a disabling medical condition.
