Am I Actually Eligible to Apply?

This is almost always the first question on a claimant's mind, and it's a fair one. The honest answer is that more people are eligible than they think, so it's almost always worth applying rather than guessing yourself out of benefits you may deserve.

Here's a simple way to think about it:

• For SSDI, you generally need to have worked and paid into Social Security for a certain number of years, and have a medical condition that stops you from doing full-time work for at least 12 months (or is expected to).
• For SSI, you need limited income and resources, and a qualifying disability, or in some cases, be 65 or older.
• For VA disability, you need a current medical condition that is connected to your time in service, even if it showed up years later.
• For workers' comp, you generally need an injury or illness that happened because of your job, reported within your state's deadline.

You don't need to already have all the proof gathered to apply. Applying is simply the first step. Many people delay applying because they're afraid they'll be told no, but a denial happens to a lot of people who go on to win their case later.

An experienced attorney can often spot eligibility paths you wouldn't have considered on your own, which is one reason early legal guidance tends to save time and frustration down the line.