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Will I qualify for St. Louis Social Security disability benefits?

Our St. Louis disability clients often ask us whether they will qualify for St. Louis Social Security disability benefits. To qualify, you must be found to be “disabled” by the Social Security Administration. According to Social Security law, you are “disabled” only if your physical or mental impairment is so severe that you are unable to do your previous work and you cannot, considering your age, education, and work experience, do any other substantial gainful work that exists in the economy.

To determine whether you qualify for St. Louis Social Security disability benefits, the Social Security Administration will use a five-step sequential evaluation process to apply the above definition of “disabled” to your case. The five-step process can be complicated and involves a detailed analysis. The five steps, however, can be simplified to the following two questions:

Is your physical or mental condition preventing you from working?

Has this physical or mental lasted for 12 continuous months, or is it expected to last that long?

If your answer to both of the above questions is “yes” then it is worth beginning the process of applying for St. Louis Social Security disability benefits. For more information about the sequential evaluation process, see The Sequential Evaluation Process. Also, watch our video “Are you likely to qualify” for an introduction to the Social Security Administration’s disability determination process.

Should I appeal the denial of my initial application for St. Louis Social Security disability?

Yes. If your initial application is denied, do not lose hope. Two-thirds of initial applications for Social Security disability benefits are denied while over half of those who appeal are awarded disability benefits. Receiving a denial of your initial application is the first step towards an appeal hearing, which is where you will have the best odds of being awarded Social Security disability benefits.

The process favors appellants over applicants. The denial of your initial application is based only on a Social Security disability examiner’s review of your file. At the application stage, the examiner doesn’t have the opportunity to hear from you and your witnesses in person. As a result, disability examiners frequently focus on the medical records rather than on fully understanding how your impairment limits your ability to function in the workplace.

When you appeal, you will have a disability hearing before an administrative law judge. At your hearing, with the assistance of your St. Louis disability attorney, you will have the opportunity to appear in person before the judge and explain your impairment(s) in your own words. In addition, your witnesses can tell the judge about your impairments and how they limit the activities you are able to do. This helps St. Louis disability appellants win Social Security disability benefits.

If you believe you cannot work, you should appeal the denial of your initial application. We can help you appeal the denial of your application. For more information about appealing, take a look at The appeals process, which explains in detail the appeals process, and read Appealing a Denial of Benefits, a free downloadable e-booklet about appealing a denial.