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No matter how much education and job experience someone possesses, there may come a time when they cannot work at their job. If a medical or mental condition has made it impossible to earn a living, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may be able to assist you. The SSA provides those who qualify with a monthly payment. This benefit, however, is far from guaranteed, and many applicants get turned down for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. One aspect of an approval hinges on your education, and many applicants don't understand why. Read on to find out more.

The Work That Applicants Are Not Able To Do

It may be easy to explain why you can no longer do your previous job. You probably know all too well the struggles you experienced once you began to be negatively affected by your condition. Your last job and the required job tasks are of great interest to the SSA when they review your application. They will be comparing the tasks to your medical condition to verify your ability to do those tasks. The Disability Determination Services (DDS) is a special section of the SSA that focuses only on that aspect. They take over your case after your medical evidence has been evaluated.

The Work That Applicants Might Be Able To Do

The second job of the DDS is to find out if you can do other work, and that is where many applicants get denied. You may be skilled and educated enough to do other jobs, and the SSA might deny you benefits as a result. That means that applicants with higher levels of education have more of a challenge getting an approval. Unfortunately, applicants have no way of preventing a denial if they are very educated. They do, however, have the opportunity to appeal the denial and plead their case before an administrative law judge (ALJ).

Explaining Your Case Before an ALJ

Social Security requirements can be complex – particularly when dealing with issues of higher education and alternate employment. Fortunately, applicants are allowed to be accompanied by an expert to appeal hearings. Social Security lawyers understand what to expect at an appeal and how to fight against a denial, no matter the reason. If the SSA expects you to work at a job that is not suitable for you for any reason, you will need an advocate to challenge that decision.

Just because you possess a higher level of education is no reason to deny you benefits. Speak to a Social Security lawyer to find out more about Social Security Disability law.