How to Know if You Might Be Eligible for Social Security Disability
- From Lake Michigan to the banks of the Ohio River, Indiana is a state that prides itself on hard work. Indiana workers play a central role in the manufacturing industry, and its farmland is famous.
- With so many people who identify themselves by the work they do, it can be crushing to suddenly face a serious health problem that keeps you from doing your job.
- It can leave you frustrated, ashamed, and worried about the future. Help is out there.
- Social Security Disability benefits can provide you the financial stability you need as you learn to manage your new normal.
But what qualifies for disability in Indiana?
Getting those benefits can be a chore. Social Security won’t just take your word for it that you can’t work and should qualify for benefits. You have to convincingly prove that you can’t work and that your health problems aren’t going away anytime soon.
It’s easy to make mistakes. In recent years, 61 percent of first-time disability applicants in Indiana have gotten denied.
But it’s not hopeless. Social Security recognizes hundreds of diagnoses as impairments that may qualify for monthly benefits that help you handle daily expenses.
A skilled Social Security Disability lawyer in Indiana can help.
At Nash Disability Law, we’ve been helping Hoosiers win disability benefits for more than 40 years, starting outside Chicago in Hammond and Gary, and moving throughout the state.
If you have questions about whether you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits in Indiana—whether your medical condition qualifies for benefits and whether your case is strong—talk to us about how to build a successful disability benefits claim.
You can get help from a disability lawyer for no fee until you win benefits.
What Impairments Are Qualified for Disability Benefits in Indiana?
Maybe you spent years working the line at an auto plant in Gary or helped build Indiana’s booming tech scene in Hammond or elsewhere. When your health no longer lets you do the work you’ve always done, you deserve financial relief.
You’ve paid into Social Security with every paycheck. Those taxes entitle you to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits when you can’t work.
The first step toward getting that help is gathering evidence that shows how you qualify.
To qualify for Social Security Disability, you must prove two things:
Your medical condition is one that Social Security considers eligible for benefits.
Your condition will keep you from working at your past job(s) and in some cases any other job for at least a year.
Social Security maintains a detailed list of impairments that can qualify for disability benefits in Indiana and nationwide. They fit into general categories that include:
Musculoskeletal
Respiratory
Cardiovascular
Digestive
Genitourinary
Hematological
Skin
Endocrine
Neurological
Mental
Cancer
Immune System
Congenital
Your situation may not fit neatly into Social Security’s definitions. Many people still qualify because their overall symptoms are severe enough to keep them from working.
The key is demonstrating that your medical limitations prevent you from working on a consistent and reliable basis for at least 12 consecutive months. Social Security looks closely at both your work history and how your health problems affect your ability to perform any job.
If you’re unsure whether you qualify for disability benefits, Nash Disability can guide you through every step. We help people throughout Indiana get the support they need.
Give us a call for a free consultation.
How To Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits in Indiana
Qualifying for Social Security Disability benefits in Indiana takes some determination, but you can do it.
You will need to gather details of your work history and medical history to start building a case. The best place to start is by asking yourself some basic questions.
How long did I work?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) bases eligibility on “work credits.” You can earn up to four per year. To qualify, you generally need at least 40 total credits—about 10 years of work—with at least 20 of those credits earned in the 10 years before your health forced you to stop working.
How much am I making from work now?
You’re allowed to receive income from investments or rental property and still get SSDI benefits. But you can’t receive too much income from working. If you earn more than $1,690 a month in 2026, Social Security considers that “substantial gainful activity,” which could disqualify you and lead to a denial.
How far along am I in my working years?
You must be younger than 67 to qualify for disability benefits. Once you reach that age, Social Security moves you into retirement benefits instead. If you’re younger than 67 but over 50, you may have a better chance of winning disability benefits. This is because under Social Security’s rules, older workers are considered less able to adapt to careers that better accommodate their health limitations.
Is my impairment in Social Security’s “Blue Book?”
Social Security keeps a list of recognized impairments that qualify for benefits. You can search that database for yours. If you don’t find it, don’t worry. Social Security may also grant benefits if you can prove your overall symptoms keep you from functioning well enough to work.
Can I do another job?
Social Security considers you to have a qualifying disability if you cannot perform your past relevant work (work that you have done in the five years prior to becoming unable to work), or other work considering your age, education, and past work. Therefore, in many cases, you must prove that you are disabled from performing not only your past job, but any job in the “national economy.”
Proving all of this can be challenging. You need to have supporting evidence, including medical records, treatment plans, test results, work history, and even statements from people who know you and can attest to how your condition limits your ability to work.
At Nash Disability Law, we can do the heavy lifting for you. If you provide us with a thorough list of your medical providers from the relevant time period, we will coordinate with Social Security to request and submit your records.
We know what to look for because we’ve been through this process thousands of times before.
We know how hard health problems can be. We know Hoosiers want to live with dignity.
Social Security Disability benefits can provide financial relief for you to regain some of what you’ve lost. Let’s get you started moving toward a better, more stable future.