If you suffer from a serious musculoskeletal condition that affects your quality of life, then you might qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a Listing of Impairments that they consider serious enough to warrant them offering disability payments, although having a condition that isn’t listed isn’t necessarily a barrier to your claim. Your entire medical history and all your health problems will be considered as a whole. To qualify for benefits, doctors must expect your condition to last at least 12 months or be terminal. Your condition must also adversely impact your ability to work.
What you should know about musculoskeletal conditions and SSD
Individuals may qualify for SSD for their musculoskeletal condition irrespective of what led to its onset, including:
- Hereditary causes
- Congenital issues
- Inflammatory response
- Vascular, metabolic and other diseases
- Trauma
- Infections
- Degenerative processes
- Developmental issues
Instances in which a loss of function, whether caused by amputation, deformity or destruction, may also make you eligible for SSD benefits. The same logic applies if an incident, such as a fracture, soft tissue injury, burn, or radiculopathy resulted in some type of neurological deficit.
Individuals suffering from a musculoskeletal impairment resulting in gross motor skills issues, such as limiting their mobility, may also be eligible to receive SSD.
What you should know about applying for disability benefits
If you’ve started looking into the application process for disability benefits, then you’ve likely noticed that the SSA requires a significant amount of records documenting the extent of your injuries or illness. Their physician case reviewers will reach a determination as to whether you meet the SSA’s strict definition and thus warrant benefits based on the review of your file.
Many applicants have their applications denied when submitting their first application for benefits. An attorney can help you understand what it takes to overcome a denial so that you can obtain the benefits you need.