If you’ve recently been severely injured in an accident, you’re probably dealing with a lot of uncertainties. You very likely spent considerable time at the hospital, and may be looking toward a future filled with medical treatment and care. In addition to time you’ve already lost at work, you may wonder whether you can ever return to employment.
It may help to know that there are certain disabilities outlined by the Social Security department that can entitle you to receive Social Security disability benefits. This is known as Social Security’s listing of impairments, and basically sets the criteria for those who can receive regular financial assistance from the federal government.
General Requirements for Social Security Disability Benefits
Social Security’s listing of impairments actually includes specific conditions, so you can see whether your condition falls under federal guidelines. But first, there are a few criteria you must meet to even be considered for Social Security disability benefits.
To receive Social Security disability benefits, your impairment must be:
- Permanent
- Terminal in nature (meaning it will eventually lead to death)
- Expected to last for an extended amount of time (at least 1 year)
The impairment must be so severe that you are considered unable to work for at least 12 months. If you’re concerned about your eligibility to receive Social Security disability benefits, you’ll want to talk with an Indianapolis Social Security lawyer, who can help build a case that shows the extent of your injuries.
Social Security’s Listing of Impairments
Social Security’s Listing of ImpairmentsIn addition, an Indianapolis Social Security lawyer can look to immediately see whether your condition does fall under Social Security’s listing of impairments, and affects body systems such as the:
- Musculoskeletal system
- Respiratory system
- Cardiovascular system
- Digestive system
- Endocrine system
- Immune system
While this is more of an umbrella list, Social Security’s listing of impairments also accounts for mental and neurological disorders, disorders that affect speech and other senses, skin disorders and even malignant neoplastic diseases like leukemia.
Social Security’s listing of impairments goes into extreme detail on the definition of eligibility for dozens of diseases and disorders. While it is extremely thorough, it can also be rather overwhelming to comprehend, and chances are, if you’re dealing with a severe impairment, you may not have the ability or energy to make sense of this on your own. Hiring an Indianapolis Social Security lawyer will help you determine your eligibility with fewer hassles and burdens.
Even if your condition is not listed specifically on the Social Security’s listing of impairments, you may still qualify for benefits, so don’t give up quite yet.
When Your Condition Is Not on Social Security’s Listing of Impairments
When Your Condition Is Not on Social Security’s Listing of ImpairmentsThe Social Security Administration requires you to undergo a general disability evaluation to qualify for Social Security benefits. This means that if your condition is as severe as those on the Social Security’s listing of impairments, and you are deemed disabled through the evaluation, you may still receive Social Security disability benefits.
If your condition is not included in Social Security’s listing of impairments, the help of an Indianapolis Social Security lawyer is crucial, because you’ll need an attorney’s aid to prove the severity of your condition.
In addition, your Indianapolis Social Security lawyer can also build a case that will prove your eligibility in the general disability evaluation, which considers your:
- Current employment status
- Impairment and its severity
- Previous employment situation and if you are still able to perform that job
- Age, education and past work experience to determine whether you are able to adjust back to a different form of employment
If at any point in this evaluation you are deemed as not disabled, you will not receive Social Security disability benefits. To avoid time-consuming mistakes and make sure you have all the necessary proof you need, you’ll want to talk with an Indianapolis Social Security lawyer.
An attorney can help you gather medical evidence from your physicians, treatment centers and health facilities to improve your chances to receive the Social Security disability benefits.