What Does “Disabled” Mean?

A very common misconception people have about Social Security disability is that if you are “disabled,” you are unable to do any job. This is absolutely false.

If you think about it, being unable to do any job would be a ridiculous standard. There are jobs that virtually anyone could do. Imagine being in the relatively quiet position of a bridge tender in a low-traffic canal. You would basically do next to nothing until a boat comes along, at which point you would press a button to raise the bridge. The rest of the time, you could by lying in a cot or reclining in a comfortable chair. However, there are only a small number of bridge tender jobs out there. Just because you are able to be bridge tender does not mean you are not disabled, and economically disadvantaged because of it.

If a person had to be disabled to the point where he were unable to be a bridge tender in order to qualify for Social Security disability benefits, no one would be entitled to benefits. Instead of trying to meet that impossible standard, you have to determine if you are disabled by considering what jobs you are able to do. You must consider whether or not those jobs have a significant presence in the economy. You must consider if your age, or your qualifications (education and work experience) prevent you from getting those jobs.

The questions involved in determining disability are fairly complex, and you may qualify for benefits even if you are not “completely” disabled. If you are unsure whether or not you qualify for benefits, call Ocala Social Security disability attorney CJ Henry today.