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If you are an adult who used to work, but now are totally disabled because of an injury, illness or medical condition you might be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. This would give you money every month, just like the regular Social Security benefits you would get when you retire. Plus you might also qualify for Medicare coverage and additional money for your family members.

Social Security sets out a process that they follow to prove disability. First, they ask if you’re working. If not, they look to see if you have some medical issue which affects your ability to work. If you do have some problem, they check to see how much it limits you. If the condition is so severe that you obviously can’t work, you win. But if they think there is something you can still do, they check to see if you can go back to the work you used to do. If not, they will see if there is any work you can do with those limitations at all, even if you’ve never done that work and don’t have the schooling or training for it.