The Social Security Administration pays benefits to qualified individuals in Kentucky and around the country who have been unable to work for valid reasons for a year or more. In order to qualify, an applicant's occupation must first be a job covered by Social Security. Also, the resulting medical issue must meet the SSA's definition of what's considered a disability. The basic goal is to help individuals transition back to work whenever possible.
Applicants must have worked long enough and recent enough to receive benefits. Work credits are based on yearly wages or income earned by self-employment. Also, applicants must be unable to do the work they did previously and have a disability expected to last a year or more or result in death. The process begins when an individual seeking benefits sends an application to a Disability Determination Services office. The condition must interfere with basic work-related activities.