Disability Benefits for Bookkeepers
Bookkeepers are entrusted by their clients with a variety of important financial tasks. Some of the responsibilities that a bookkeeper is in charge of include processing accounts receivable and accounts payable, managing the balance between the money that is coming in and the money going out, handling cash-flow analysis, working with clients' accountants to ensure financial accuracy, tracking and managing financial records and keeping a history of the financial records for a business or individual.
A career as a bookkeeper requires a high level of mathematical ability, critical thinking skills and the ability to manage and organize data efficiently and accurately. Bookkeepers must be able to manage the financial records of their clients and organize them in such a way that access to the historical financial information is readily available should the client ever need to review the data at a moment's notice.
While being a bookkeeper is not necessarily a high-risk job, there are situations in which these professionals may become disabled and are unable to continue their full-time work activities due to the disabling condition. When a bookkeeper faces a disability that affects their critical thinking skills or mathematical abilities, or suffers from some other disability that affects their ability to perform their job responsibilities, they may be able to qualify for disability.
Working with a Disability as a Bookkeeper
Because a position as a bookkeeper is a highly-skilled job, not all disabling conditions will qualify these professionals for Social Security Disability benefits. For example, if a bookkeeper faces a disability that prevents them from walking or standing for long periods of time, that disability would have little to no impact on the bookkeeper's ability to maintain their work responsibilities and would not qualify them for Social Security Disability benefits. If, however, a bookkeeper were to suffer from a long-term disability such as a brain injury or a serious illness that prevented them from performing any form of substantial gainful work activity, that individual would be entitled to disability benefits from the Social Security Administration.
When a bookkeeper suffers from such a disability and that disability results in the inability to work and generate an income, the financial ramifications can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Social Security Disability benefits may be able to help. It is important, however, that a bookkeeper apply for disability benefits as soon as possible. Bookkeeping is considered to be a highly-skilled profession, so it is likely that a bookkeeper's initial claim for Social Security Disability benefits will be denied by the Social Security Administration. This will result in the need for a disability appeal, which is a process that can take more than two years to complete.
Because bookkeeping is a highly-skilled career, it can be harder for a bookkeeper to obtain an approval of Social Security Disability benefits than it would be for an unskilled worker. For example, if it is determined that a bookkeeper is no longer able to perform bookkeeping responsibilities due to a slight mental impairment, it may be determined that there is other, less taxing work that the individual could perform in the national economy. If the Social Security Administration determines that the disability applicant is capable of any type of work at all, that applicant's Social Security Disability claim will be denied.
Applying for Social Security Disability as a Bookkeeper
When a bookkeeper applies for Social Security Disability benefits, the Social Security Administration will take a number of factors into consideration including the age of the applicant, the applicant's work history and the severity of the individual's condition. Your residual functional work capacity will also be evaluated to determine whether or not there is any other type of work you may be able to perform. If it is determined that you can perform any type of work at all, you will not be approved for disability benefits.
Working with an SSI or SSDI disability attorney or advocate may increase your chances of being awarded disability benefits during the initial stage of the disability application process. These professionals will help you in the preparation of your disability claim and will ensure that the adjudicator reviewing your file understands the severity of your condition and how it prevents you from performing any job in the national economy. If, for some reason, your initial application for disability benefits is denied, your attorney or advocate can increase your chances of filing a successful disability appeal. For example, he or she may argue that it is impossible, due to your age or the severity of your impairment, for you to be retrained to perform any other type of work.
If you would like to discuss your Social Security Disability application with a qualified disability attorney or advocate or if you would like to find out more about qualifying for Social Security Disability benefits as a disabled bookkeeper, click here for a free review of your Social Security Disability claim.
