How to Apply for Social Security Disability in Portland, Oregon

The federal government provides benefits to disabled workers who are unable to earn a suitable income because of their disability. These benefits are administered through the Social Security Administration. In order for an individual to obtain disability benefits, he must meet certain criteria including earning less than $1,000 per month (as of 2010), having a medical condition that is considered "severe" by the Social Security Administration and not being able to perform the work that they had performed before their disability or find suitable work in another profession that matches their education, skills and abilities.

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  Contact your local SSA representative to determine whether or not you are eligible to receive disability benefits. In addition to having a documented disability, applicants must meet additional criteria before they are eligible to receive benefits. A local SSA representative for the Portland area can be reached by contacting the SSA office in Beaverton, Oregon, at 800-772-1213.

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  Access the online application for Social Security disability benefits. The online application is available at the Social Security Administration's website (see Resources for a link). Review the application instructions that are listed on the first page of the online application. Select the preliminary criteria that apply to your situation, such as whether you are completing the application for yourself or someone else and that you are not blind and therefore able to complete the online application. Finally, before you proceed to the main section of the application, you must read the Privacy Act Statement and check the box to acknowledge your knowledge of the statement. Once you have completed those acts, select the "Apply For Benefits" button at the bottom of the page.

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  Provide the information necessary to complete the application for benefits. Provide personal information such as your Social Security number, birth certificate, the names, addresses and phone numbers of your doctors, caseworkers, hospitals or clinics with whom you have consulted for your disability and the dates of your visits, the names and dosages of the medications that you take any medical records that you have in your possession, laboratory test results (if applicable), a summary of your work history and a copy of your most recent W-2 Form. Submit your completed application.