There are many reasons that people in Georgia are not working for a period of time. It could be because they were laid off or fired. It could be because they needed to take time off to help care for a loved one or because they suffered a temporary illness or injury that will require a couple of months to recover from before they can work again. However, some injuries and illnesses are much more severe and will force people to miss much more time than just a couple of months.
People who find themselves in that type of situation can find themselves in a difficult financial situation in addition to the physical problems that are keeping them from working. Not having an income can make meeting financial needs difficult. But, these people may be able to receive Social Security Disability benefits (SSDI), which is compensation that can help people meet their monthly obligations. People must qualify for them though which starts with determining whether they are disabled.
In determining whether people are disabled, there are five general questions which must be answered. The first is whether people are working. If people are working and earn more than $1,220 per month, they are not considered disabled.
The second is whether people’s condition is severe. Severe is defined by whether people cannot perform basic work functions for at least 12 months.
The third is whether the disability is found on the list of disabling conditions. The fourth is whether the condition prevents people from doing the work they used to do. The fifth is whether people can do other types of work.
There are many people in Georgia who have injuries or illnesses that prevent them from being able to work. That does not automatically mean that people are eligible for SSDI benefits, though. They must meet the definition of disabled as defined by the Social Security Administration, which is determined by asking five questions about people’s conditions.