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Can I Get SSD Benefits for Office Job Injuries?

According to data provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA), there are approximately 10 million people receiving Social Security disability (SSD) benefits in the United States. Social Security disability recipients are diverse. They are people of all different ages, income level, and occupations. You do not have to work in a “dangerous” industry in order to be eligible for SSDI benefits. 

This raises an important question: Can you qualify for Social Security disability benefits if you work in an office? The answer is a clear ‘yes’—disabled office workers can absolutely qualify for SSDI benefits if they meet medical and non-medical requirements. In this article, you will find a more complete guide to office work injury Social Security disability claims.

Office Job Injuries Can Qualify for Social Security Disability

It would be a misconception to assume that office workers do not suffer injuries on the job. The reality is that office workers are injured at about the rate of the national average across all industries. An employee working within an office could be injured in a number of different circumstances. Some of the most common office worker injuries include:

  • Slip and fall accidents;
  • Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs);
  • Overexertion injuries; and
  • Back injuries.

Of course, an office worker could also develop non-work related injuries, illnesses, or impairments that render them temporarily or permanently unable to return to the job. As an example, a very serious and debilitating form of cancer could make an office employee medically disabled.

Why Office Workers May Have a More Difficult Time Getting SSD Benefits

While office workers can certainly qualify for Social Security disability benefits through SSDI or SSI, they can sometimes face additional challenges in the claims process. For office workers, one of the core challenges is that they must prove that their disability makes them medically incapable of returning to their previous job or to a suitable alternative position.

An office job is generally classified as “sedentary work.” Some workers have physical and/or mental disabilities that render them unable to reasonably perform sedentary office work. Still, you will need to be able to prove strong and comprehensive medical evidence that you are unable to meet the physical or mental requirements of your job.

You Can Challenge a Social Security Disability Denial

Office workers can put themselves in the best position to get SSD benefits by putting together a comprehensive, well-supported initial application for benefits. That being said, even if you do everything right, you could still run into some issues. If your claim for SSDI or SSI benefits for an office job injury was denied, you are not necessarily out of luck. You have the right to file an appeal.

Your request for reconsideration (initial appeal) should be submitted within 60 day. The SSA denies a significant number of initial claims. In some cases, the SSA makes errors. In other cases, the applicant needs to produce supplemental documentation. Regardless, a lawyer for denied social security disability applications can help you navigate the claims process.


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