Experienced Legal Representation for CT Disability Clients

For more than 20 years, The Nicholas Law Firm, LLC has represented Connecticut clients in Social Security Disability benefit claims.

How does the Social Security Administration (SSA) determine if you are disabled?

For both Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income, disability is defined the same way: the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of physical or mental impairment which is expected to result in death or has lasted or is expected to last continuously for 12 months or longer.

SSA’s steps to determine CT disability

The Social Security Administration has a five-step process for determining disability in Connecticut. The following is a brief explanation of the steps:

• Substantial gainful activity. As of 2010, if your averaged earnings exceed $980 per month, you are working at Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) by SSA standards and you are not eligible for CT disability income.
• Severity of impairment. The SSA must find your impairment severe enough to interfere with basic work related activity.
• Listed impairment. If your impairment is on the SSA’s list of impairments and deemed severe enough to meet the requirements, you can be found disabled. The list includes impairments involving:

  Musculoskeletal system Special senses and speech Respiratory system Cardiovascular system Digestive system Genitourinary (reproductive) system Hematological (blood) disorders

  Skin disorders Endocrine system Multiple body systems impairments Neurological disorders Mental disorders Malignant neoplastic (tumor) disease Immune system

• Ability to perform past work. Even if your condition is determined to be severe, if the Social Security Administration determines you can still perform your past work, you are not considered disabled. However, if SSA finds you cannot perform all of your prior work for the past 15 years, you may move on to the next step.
• Ability to do other work. If it is determined that there is work you could do as an alternative to your previous work, the SSA does not consider you disabled. However, if it is found that you cannot adjust to other work, you may be granted Social Security Disability benefits.

Talk to a CT disability attorney

Our experienced attorneys can assist you in pursuing claims for disability income in Connecticut along with other Social Security claims. Contact The Nicholas Law Firm, LLC online or call 866-471-5194 today to schedule a free consultation.