What basics do you need to know about SSD benefits?

Many of our readers in Tennessee probably know that Social Security Disability benefits help millions of people throughout the country with their financial needs, including many people here in our home state. But, many people have probably heard other "common knowledge" about SSD benefits, too, including that many initial applications for benefits are denied. For those who believe they may be able to apply for Social Security Disability benefits, knowing the basics about the process is crucial.

So, what basics do our readers need to know about SSD benefits in general, and the application process for these benefits in particular? Well, for starters, it is important to understand that SSD benefits are not "welfare." Workers in America pay into the Social Security Disability system from the wages they earn. It is a system that is in place to help workers in the event that they suffer an injury or illness that renders them unable to continue to work and earn an income. SSD benefits are more like an insurance plan than "welfare."

In terms of the application process, knowing the basic eligibility factors is crucial. To begin with, applicants must have spent an appropriate amount of time in the workforce. The second crucial factor is that the applicant's disability, whatever that may be, must be proven to be expected to last 12 months or more, or result in the worker's death.

The initial application is probably the most important point of the whole Social Security Disability setup. Applicants need to provide the Social Security Administration with the right medical details and work history. Otherwise, they may indeed face a denial of the initial application and, from there, face the need to proceed through the appeals process.