Will I Have To Sell My House Or My Assets To Qualify For Social Security Disability?

No. You will not have to sell anything in order to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Your financial situation is irrelevant to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) review of your application because Social Security disability is not a needs-based program.

Whether you live in a multi-million dollar property, in Section 8 housing, or something in between is of no concern to the SSA. You will not be asked to downsize your home or your financial assets.

What, Then, Does Matter to the SSA?

The SSA may not be concerned about your financial situation, but it is very concerned about your health. In order to qualify for Social Security disability benefits you must prove that you are unable to work because of your physical condition and that you will be unable to work for at least twelve months or that your condition will result in death. You may be able to do this by showing that your medical condition is included in the Listing of Impairments, by proving that your medical condition is equal in severity to a condition included in the Listing of Impairments, or by proving that you are unable to work. You should expect to supply the SSA with supporting medical documentation and a complete application.

Get Social Security and Stay in Your Own Home

You should not—and do not—have to decide between the disability benefits that you’ve earned and staying in your own home. Instead, learn what Social Security disability is really about and how it may help you by reading our FREE Social Security Disability Fact Sheet.

by Paul B. Burkhalter
Managing Partner of Morgan & Weisbrod, Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.

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