There are two stages for applying for social security benefits. In stage 1, the applicant must prove he/she is eligible to apply. Is the applicant meets social security’s income and resource test under the Title 16 program, he will then be able to apply. An applicant who applies for SSI (supplemental security Income) who has substantial assets will not meet social security ’s test and will not be allowed the continue the process.

The first part of social security process is meeting the means test. An applicant who does not meet the means test will not be allowed to go forward.

Once an applicant has been shown to be eligible to apply for benefits, the applicant is then allowed to go forward and undergo the disability process to determine eligibility to receive benefits. This determination is the real disability process. Medical history is utilized to prove applicant meets social security ’s definition of total disability. For an applicant to meet Social Security’s definition of disability, the “person must suffer from a severe impairment that is medically determinable. The impairment must have lasted or is expected to last for a minimum period of twelve continuous months or the impairment must be result in a death. The impairment must also prevent all work activity at the SGA level.)