It’s easy to understand that many major injuries qualify as disabilities. If you suffer a spinal cord injury that leaves you paralyzed from the waist down, for example, it clearly impacts your ability to work. Because you can no longer work, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
But what about a relatively minor injury, like a broken arm? If you do break your arm, it certainly may mean that you can’t work. This could be true for months as the injury heals. So can you seek disability benefits in the meantime?
It has to last for 12 months
The key thing to consider in a scenario like this is that the Social Security Administration defines disability very specifically. According to this definition, the issue has to keep you from working for 12 months or more. These injuries have to last for at least a year in order for people to qualify for benefits.
This means that most of these “minor” injuries are not going to qualify. It may be true that you can’t work while you have a broken arm, but it will likely heal in a matter of weeks.
That said, there could be complications. Say that the broken arm becomes infected. You end up in the hospital and need further surgery. Or maybe there are other injuries that you suffer along with the broken arm, such as nerve damage. Even if the bone heals, the nerve damage may not, meaning that you can’t return to work as you anticipated.
Every injury is unique, which is why it’s so important to work with medical professionals to get an accurate diagnosis and the proper medical documentation to back up your claim. If you do believe you qualify for SSDI benefits, then you need to know what legal steps to take to apply for them.