There are many well-paid blue-collar professionals working in Michigan. The state has well-developed industrial and manufacturing sectors. Many workers with marginal educations can obtain positions that provide them with competitive wages and reasonable benefits.
However, their comfortable standard of living can disappear in a moment because of a disabling medical condition. Some people discover that they have genetic conditions later in life. Others may acquire injuries due to car crashes or other experiences.
They may find themselves unable to continue working in a physically-demanding blue-collar profession. Some of those workers may have disability benefits provided by their employers. Others can be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Blue-collar employees benefit from a special rule that makes it easier for them to acquire SSDI benefits.
Physical laborers require special consideration
Blue-collar professionals risk injury every day that they go to work. They often work with dangerous equipment that could cause catastrophic injuries. They also cause damage to their bodies by performing physically intensive job functions such as lifting heavy components or handling power tools. Even when workers avoid catastrophic injuries, they may incur cumulative trauma that results in decreased physical ability as they age.
Typically, the Social Security Administration (SSA) only approves SSDI benefit claims when people become completely unable to work. A skilled professional who has a medical issue that forces them to leave a job can still potentially work as a cashier or a greeter at a grocery store. They are unlikely to qualify for SSDI benefits because they can work a different job.
Blue-collar workers who have done physically demanding work for at least 35 years receive special consideration. If they can no longer perform the same work, they might be eligible for SSDI benefits. Workers who can prove that they have an adequate blue-collar work history and a marginal education can qualify for SSDI benefits when others would not qualify.
This special rule takes into consideration the physical degradation caused by many careers that require physical labor. When a blue-collar professional develops a debilitating medical condition that prevents them from continuing their work, they might be eligible for SSDI benefits.
Reviewing medical records and employment information can help people evaluate their eligibility for SSDI benefits. Blue-collar workers can sometimes qualify for benefits in scenarios where other professionals might not.