How to Qualify for Disability Benefits in Georgia

Do you live in Georgia? Are you unable to work due to a disabling condition?

You may qualify for disability benefits in Georgia if so. The US Social Security Administration (SSA) offers benefits to individuals who can’t work and cover the costs of their basic needs due to impairments. Additionally, the State of Georgia offers programs that help those in your position.

The following overview will cover such important topics as disability requirements in GA. For more information, strongly consider discussing the topic in greater detail with a legal professional.

Understanding The Definition Of Disability In Georgia

Georgia’s definition of a disability is the same as all other states in regard to disability requirements in GA. Per the SSA, a disability is an impairment that prevents someone from participating in substantial gainful activity (SGA). To qualify as a disability, an impairment must be medically likely to either last at least 12 months or result in the death of the affected individual.

What Disabling Conditions Qualify In Georgia?

It would be impossible to list all the conditions that might qualify someone for disability benefits in Georgia. The SSA maintains a list of conditions worth checking for anyone interested in learning how to qualify for disability in Georgia.

This list is the SSA Blue Book. It names more than 200 conditions that might qualify someone for disability benefits.

The Blue Book also contains information regarding the individual requirements you may need to meet to show that a given condition qualifies as a disability. Thoroughly check the Blue Book entry for your condition to determine what you’ll need to do to prove you deserve to receive benefits.

It’s also worth noting that the type of disability benefits you’re applying for can impact the qualification requirements. You will have needed to have worked and earned sufficient “work credits” in the past to qualify for certain forms of disability benefits.

Types of Disability Benefits Available in Georgia

While learning how to qualify for disability in the State of Georgia, you should also familiarize yourself with the different types of benefits programs to which you may apply. Your primary options if you’re seeking benefits from the SSA are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Georgia Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI is the disability benefits program to which you may apply if you’ve worked in the past and have earned sufficient work credits. Currently, a worker in the US may earn up to four work credits every year.

Your age will also influence whether you’ve earned enough credits to qualify for SSDI. The breakdown is as follows:

  • If you’ve earned at least six work credits within a three-year period before your disability began, you may qualify for SSDI while younger than 24 years old.
  • If you’re between the ages of 24 and 31, you may be eligible for SSDI if you can show you’ve worked for at least half the time between when you turned 21 and when you developed a disability. For example, perhaps you developed a disability at age 29. You would need to have earned work credits representing four years of work to qualify for SSDI in this scenario.
  • You must have earned at least 20 work credits during the 10-year period immediately preceding the start of your disability to qualify for SSDI if you’re over the age of 31.

Per the most recent SSA data, the average monthly payment for someone receiving SSDI is $1,489.00.

Georgia Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI is a purely needs-based program. You don’t have to have earned sufficient work credits to qualify for this form of disability benefits in Georgia. Instead, you may qualify as an adult or a child if you meet all the following criteria:

  • You have no income or very little income
  • You have no or very little financial resources
  • You have an impairment that qualifies as a disability, or you’re over the age of 65

If you receive SSI, you might use some of the funds to cover a child’s expenses. Be sure to document such usage of SSI funds if so.

State of Georgia Disability Programs

Disability benefits in Georgia may also be available through the Department of Human Resources. Just like the SSA, Georgia offers both short-term and long-term benefits based on the needs of individual applicants.

Short-Term Benefits

Short-term benefits may work in conjunction with other income benefits to help cover your salary when you can’t work because of an injury or other short-term disabling condition. 

You can choose between a 7-day waiting period and a 30-day waiting period when applying for this type of benefits program. The waiting period influences when benefits become available. Other important points to be aware of include:

  • Your salary and other such factors determine premium payments
  • This form of coverage is paid with after-tax premiums
  • Short-term benefits are not available during paid sick time and other such periods

Long-Term Benefits

Long-term benefits have a standard 180-day waiting period. That means they kick in 180 calendar days after you develop a disability. They may typically continue until you are no longer disabled or reach the age of 65, but there are exceptions. For example, benefits are limited to two years for disabilities resulting from mental disorders.

Find A Disability Lawyer In Georgia

Navigating your options when applying for disability benefits in Georgia doesn’t need to be as difficult as you might assume. A Social Security disability attorney can help you in many ways in these circumstances. A lawyer can review your case to explain your options, gather medical evidence proving you qualify for disability, and more. Get started today by taking the free case evaluation to speak with an independent lawyer who handles disability cases in Georgia.

How Much Disability Can You Receive in Georgia?

How much is disability in Georgia? A lawyer and our disability calculator can help you understand how much you may expect to receive when applying for benefits. Generally, though, the maximum monthly payment for SSI in 2024 is $943 for an individual and $1,415 for a couple. For SSDI, the maximum monthly payment amount is currently $3,822 a month.

Additional Georgia Disability Resources

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