Welcome to Disability Benefits Help, an organization committed to helping claimants across the United States receive approval for disability benefits.
Since applying for Social Security disability benefits can be a difficult process, a disability attorney or advocate may increase your chances of being awarded benefits by helping accurately and favorably complete the complex paperwork, ensuring that all deadlines are met, and providing you with representation at a hearing. After submitting our web form, you will receive a 100% FREE evaluation of your disability claim. Disability attorneys and advocates receive compensation if you are awarded back benefits. We have no affiliation with the Social Security Administration, the agency at which you can apply for Social Security disability at no cost.
You may qualify for disability benefits in Kansas if a physical or mental condition limits your ability to work. Through the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA), you may seek benefits in the form of monthly payments that help you cover the cost of food, shelter, and other essentials. You might also qualify for disability benefits in Kansas through your employer.
Keep reading for more information about how to qualify for disability in Kansas. Strongly consider speaking with an attorney before starting the application process, as their insights can help you secure an approval.
Understanding The Definition Of Disability In Kansas
Per the SSA, a disability can be a physical or mental condition. What’s important is that it prevents someone from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). In 2024, participating in SGA means being able to earn a minimum of $1,550 per month if you’re not blind and $2,590 per month if you are.
A disability must also be medically likely to either result in death or last at least 12 months. Providing medical documentation to show a condition meets the SSA’s criteria for a disability is vital when submitting an application.
What Disabling Conditions Qualify In Kansas?
The SSA’s Blue Book is a useful resource to consult as you start learning about how to apply for disability in the State of Kansas. This resource contains listings for over 200 conditions that qualify as disabilities according to the SSA.
One of the first steps in meeting disability requirements in KS involves checking the Blue Book to see if there’s a listing for your condition. However, the fact that there isn’t doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t qualify for benefits.
For example, in some instances, a condition is lumped into a general category of conditions for which there’s a single listing. Consulting with an attorney can help if you’re still unsure whether your condition is one the SSA offers benefits for.
Blue Book listings also typically provide information about how to show you deserve benefits when submitting an application. All applicants need to provide medical evidence showing their conditions limit their working ability. You may need to satisfy additional requirements too, such as showing you’ve earned sufficient “work credits” to qualify for disability in Kansas.
Types of Disability Benefits Available in Kansas
Knowing how to apply for disability in the State of Kansas isn’t necessarily helpful if you apply to the wrong program. The SSA offers the following options:
Kansas Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
The topic of work credits, mentioned earlier, applies when someone seeks SSDI. To qualify for SSDI in Kansas, you need to show you’ve paid into the Social Security system and have accrued a certain number of work credits.
Workers (including self-employed workers) who pay into Social Security receive work credits every year they work. Over the course of a year, someone can earn a maximum of four work credits. How many work credits someone earns depends on their income.
The SSA requires you to have earned at least 40 work credits in total to qualify for SSDI. Of them, 20 must have been earned within the 10 years immediately before you became disabled.
Sometimes, a young worker, due to their age, hasn’t had time to earn enough work credits to qualify for SSDI. The SSA occasionally makes exceptions in these instances.
Kansas Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI is not a program based on work history. It’s purely needs-based. Unlike SSDI, when you apply for SSI, you don’t need to show that you’ve earned any number of work credits. You only need to show the following:
- You have a disability or are over the age of 65
- You have little or no income
- You have little or no financial resources
If you qualify for SSI, plan to track how you spend the funds, particularly when spending SSI funds on a child’s expenses.
State of Kansas Disability Programs
The SSA won’t offer disability benefits to someone if their condition isn’t medically likely to last at least 12 months. Thus, some states also offer short-term disability benefits, often through their departments of human services or other such agencies. Such programs offer alternatives to individuals who might not qualify for SSA benefits because their conditions aren’t expected to last a full year.
Kansas technically doesn’t offer this type of program to all residents. However, some employers, like Kansas State University, offer short-term disability insurance as an add-on to benefits programs. Check your employer’s benefits information to find out if this is an option available to you.
Find A Disability Lawyer In Kansas
If you have a disability, the idea of completing the application process for benefits may intimidate you. Completing all the tasks necessary to show you deserve benefits can be quite draining for anyone.
Luckily, this isn’t something you need to navigate alone. A Kansas Social Security disability attorney can help you in many ways now. Key benefits of working with a lawyer include:
- Getting answers to questions about your case
- Having assistance with everything from gathering medical documentation to completing paperwork
- Focusing on your health while a lawyer handles your case
Learn more by taking the Free Case Evaluation today to speak with an independent attorney who may be able to assist you.
How Much Disability Can You Receive in Kansas?
How much is disability in Kansas? There’s no way to say exactly how much money you can expect to receive without first knowing more about your case’s details. Various factors can affect how much money people receive from disability every month.
As of 2024, individuals receiving SSI may receive a maximum monthly benefit of $943. The maximum monthly SSI benefit for couples is $1,415. For SSDI, the maximum monthly benefit is currently $3,822 a month.
Our free benefits calculator can help you get a sense of how much you may be eligible to receive. A lawyer can offer more information on this subject.
