There's no simple way of determining whether your medical condition will be enough for you to be found disabled. There's what's called a "Listing of Impairments" at Social Security but those "Listings" are far from the only way a Social Security disability claim can be approved. The "Listings" themselves aren't just a list of names of diseases. Each disease has its own specific criteria for approval and those specific criteria are terribly hard to meet. As an example, you might see leg amputation in the "Listings" but you don't merely need to have had an amputation. In most cases, you'd also have to have problems with your stump that are so bad that you can't use an artificial leg. When an amputee has that sort of problem, in most cases, their surgeon goes back in to modify the stump so they can use an artificial leg. For most of our clients, meeting a "Listing" is impossible.
In the end, it's just complicated. Like it or not, you're probably going to need a lawyer to help guide you through the Social Security maze.
1 comment:
Might be worth mentioning multiple diagnosis' here. If one has one disability piled on top of others, it makes a difference as well, even if some of those disabilities may not be in the "listings". Also, after being on disability for 20+ years is a big factor. Jobs go out of date, some jobs eliminated altogether. Finding a job after 20 years of disability, and using past skills would be very difficult AND getting medical on said job will leave a huge gap in coverage, or not be available at all in an entry level job. 20 years of needing medical, and still being treated matters too. Continuous treatment is imperative for this group of people. Cutting of Medicare/Medicaid for these people could be devastating, if not deadly. Let alone cash benefits.
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