Spokane SSD Eligibility Lawyer
When a serious medical condition forces you to stop working, Social Security Disability benefits are supposed to provide financial stability and peace of mind. But for many people in Spokane, understanding the Social Security Disability eligibility rules is confusing and stressful. These rules are dense, the evidence requirements are strict, and the system often seems skeptical even of people with documented, life-altering impairments.
Our Spokane SSD eligibility lawyer helps you understand whether you qualify, what evidence you need, and how to build a case that the Social Security Administration cannot ignore. With decades of combined experience and a team that has worked together for many years, we provide guidance and support during one of the most challenging times in your life. We take a compassionate approach with our clients, listening carefully to their symptoms and limitations, while aggressively advocating in hearings to make sure their eligibility is recognized and the law is applied correctly.
You deserve to be heard. You deserve to be believed. And you deserve legal representation that treats your case like the life-changing matter it is.
SSD Eligibility for Spokane Applicants
Eligibility for Social Security Disability is based on a combination of medical and work requirements. Unlike many government benefit programs, SSD does not award benefits simply because someone has a diagnosis or because they are unable to find employment. Instead, the program focuses on whether you have a medically determinable impairment that prevents you from performing substantial work and whether you have enough work credits to qualify.
For people in Spokane living with chronic pain, progressive diseases, mental health conditions, or injuries that have forced them out of the workforce, these rules can feel frustratingly narrow. Many applicants know they cannot work, yet the agency still denies their claims because it believes their impairments are not severe enough, not well-documented, or not permanent enough. Others find out too late that they do not have sufficient work credits to qualify or that the years they worked in seasonal jobs did not count toward SSD or hamper their eligibility.
Our job is to help you make sense of these rules and determine whether you meet the requirements before you file. And if you do qualify, we make sure your application tells the full story of your condition in a way that meets the Social Security Administration’s strict standards.
Medical Eligibility: Proving the Severity of Your Impairment
The medical eligibility requirement is often the most difficult part of the SSD process. It is not enough to have a diagnosis. You must prove that your condition causes significant functional limitations and that those limitations prevent you from maintaining substantial gainful activity. The government relies heavily on medical records, test results, imaging, treatment notes, and provider opinions, so even people with very real, very disabling conditions may be denied if their records are incomplete or unclear.
When we handle your case, we take a detailed look at your medical history, including how long your symptoms have been present, the treatments you’ve tried, and the physical or mental limitations you experience day to day. We help ensure your medical documentation supports your claim by identifying gaps, requesting missing records, and helping your providers understand what information Social Security needs.
Conditions commonly seen in SSD claims include:
- Severe musculoskeletal disorders, including spinal problems, chronic pain, and joint impairments
- Serious mental health conditions, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety
These are just examples; any condition, physical or psychological, that prevents you from working may support an SSD claim if properly documented. Our goal is to present your medical evidence clearly, accurately, and in a way that communicates the real-world impact of your impairment.
Work Credits and Technical Eligibility
In addition to medical eligibility, you must have paid sufficiently into the Social Security system to qualify for SSD. This means earning enough work credits during a certain period before becoming disabled. For many Spokane residents, especially those who worked seasonal jobs, part-time positions, or roles with inconsistent income, this requirement can create complications.
Work credits are based on your earnings history, and the number required depends on your age at the time you became disabled. Younger workers may need fewer credits, while older workers need more. Problems can also arise if you have had gaps in employment due to caregiving responsibilities, layoffs, or previous health issues.
We review your earnings history with you to determine whether you meet these financial requirements. If you do not have enough credits for SSD, you may still qualify for Supplemental Security Income, which is based on financial need rather than work history. Whether applying for SSI, SSD, or a concurrent claim, we guide you toward the benefits you may be eligible for and help you pursue them with a strong, well-supported application.
Meeting or Equaling a Disability Listing
The Social Security Administration has a manual known as the Listing of Impairments. If your condition meets or equals one of these listings, you may qualify for benefits automatically, as long as the medical evidence is sufficient. But listings are complicated, filled with technical language, and often difficult for applicants to interpret on their own.
Even when a condition does not meet a listing exactly, you may qualify if your symptoms and limitations are just as severe. This can be especially important for claimants with multiple conditions that combine to create disabling limitations.
We analyze your medical records with the listings in mind and identify whether your impairment satisfies specific criteria. If your condition does not match a listing directly, we develop a medical equivalence theory that allows us to argue that your limitations are just as severe as a listed impairment. This is an area where experienced legal advocacy can make a significant difference.
Residual Functional Capacity and Your Ability to Work
If your condition does not meet or equal a listed impairment, the Social Security Administration evaluates your residual functional capacity, or RFC. This describes what you can still do despite your limitations. It includes physical abilities like lifting, standing, sitting, walking, and carrying items, as well as mental abilities like concentrating, performing tasks, remembering instructions, and interacting with others.
The RFC assessment is crucial because it plays a major role in whether the agency finds that you can return to your past work or perform other jobs in the national economy. This is where many claims are denied, even for people with significant limitations, because the agency decides they could do a different job than the one they previously held.
We ensure your RFC assessment accurately reflects your limitations by organizing your medical evidence, addressing inconsistencies, and preparing you to describe your symptoms in a way that aligns with medical documentation. The clearer and more complete your record is, the more likely your RFC will demonstrate that you cannot sustain full-time employment.
Strengthening Your SSD Eligibility Case in Spokane
Even when someone obviously qualifies for SSD, the agency may still deny the claim because it believes the evidence is insufficient or inconsistent. That is why building a strong file from the start is so important.
Here are two key areas where we help strengthen your eligibility case:
- Making sure all treating providers’ records are included, up to date, and supportive of your limitations
- Addressing gaps in treatment, changes in symptoms, or any issues that might cause the agency to question your severity
We know what the agency looks for and how to present your case in a way that meets its standards. Our goal is not just to prove that you are disabled, but to make it unmistakably clear based on the evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About SSD Eligibility in Spokane
What if I’m still working but earning very little?
Some limited work may be allowed, but earning above a certain monthly amount can disqualify you. We help you understand these rules so you do not unintentionally harm your eligibility.
Do I need to be out of work for a full year before I apply?
No. You must show that your medical condition is expected to last at least one year, but you can apply as soon as you stop working or significantly reduce your hours due to disability.
Is age a factor in SSD eligibility?
Age can play a role, especially for applicants over 50, because the rules for evaluating their ability to perform other work are more favorable. We assess how these rules apply to your case.
What if my doctor says I cannot work? Will that guarantee approval?
Unfortunately, no. The agency requires very specific types of evidence, and a simple statement from your doctor is not enough. We help develop the detailed documentation the agency needs.
Can multiple conditions qualify me even if none of them are severe on their own?
Yes. Social Security must consider the combined effect of all your impairments. Many Spokane applicants qualify based on the cumulative impact of several moderate limitations.
Free Consultation — No Recovery, No Fee
Demonstrating how you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits can feel impossible, but it becomes a realistic goal with the right legal help. Our Spokane SSD eligibility lawyer is here to provide clear guidance, steady support, and strong advocacy rooted in compassion and experience.
We offer a free consultation, and you pay no attorney’s fee unless we win your case.
Contact Gustad Law Group today to get the guidance you need and the representation you deserve.