Here are several of the specific requirements in the state of California that you need to comply with in order to qualify as a disabled person and be eligible for benefits.



• You must prove that you did not have the capacity to carry out any kind of "substantial" work because of a mental or physical condition. This condition must have persisted or would have expected to persist for a year or more. This condition may also be expected to have fatal consequences.

• For a work to be considered "substantial" you must have earned at least $780 monthly.

• Your mental or physical condition must have affected or impaired you severely subsequently preventing you not only from performing your usual job but also other occupations even with due consideration to your work experience, training, education and age.

Your tax contributions directed towards the Social Security trust fund is the base factor for your eligibility. By having paid tax contributions, this means that you are insured. You will have to earn credits depending on the age when you have incurred a disability. Credits are required of you in order to become eligible to receive disability benefits.

• Before you have reached the age of 24, you must have gained six credits over a period of three years or 12 quarters.

• If you are between 24 – 30 years old, then you must have already gained credits for "half of the calendar quarters" during the time after you have reached 21 years old and until the time you became disabled.

• After 31 years old, you must have already gained work credits for 5 years or about 20 quarters in the calendar during a period of 10 years or 40 calendar quarters. This ends at the time or after the quarter when you have become disabled.

These are the salient points you must be aware of, before ever you start your application for Social Security Disability benefits.

Aside from these, you must also have a proper understanding of the Social Security's system in handling claims for Social Security Disability benefits.

1. Everything starts with your initial application – with this, you are initially starting your claim for disability benefits. During this first step, it is a disheartening reality that 75% of all of the applicants find themselves denied.

Usually, the reasons for denial are usually based from the forms and medical records you have included supporting your claim. If you find that you are among this percentage, do not give up easily. You have to file for an appeal within the next 60 days after you have received the decision.

2. Reconsideration – this is the second step that you have to undergo, but you must still brace yourself for a denial. 82% of claimants for reconsiderations are denied. There is still recourse for you if you decisively push through with your claims.

3. Request for a Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge – you will have a good chance to win your case. Your case will have the benefit of being reviewed by a Judge and you can testify about your situation.

Bear in mind that it is best to understand and be well prepared for everything before filing for a Social Security Disability claim. You will do well to increase your probability at gaining your rightful benefits.