Applying for benefits

Published on: June 30, 2020

Sickle Cell Anemia Crisis: Can you Recover Social Security Disability Benefits For it?

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Sickle cell anemia is a condition in which the ability of certain red blood cells to carry oxygen through the tissues is impaired. These red blood cells change shape and become sickle-shaped, which is where the condition gets its name from. One common symptom of this condition is chronic fatigue. However, more severely, a sickle cell anemia crisis is characterized by severe pain all over the body. Sometimes, the pain can be severe enough for the person to require hospitalization for several days.

Many patients who suffer from sickle cell anemia struggle frequently with crises, which can significantly impair a person’s ability to earn a living. A sickle cell anemia crisis is an event in which the impaired blood cells bunch together, and block the smaller blood vessels that carry blood to the various organs. This crisis can last from just a few hours to several days. There are several possible complications associated with sickle cell anemia crisis, including blindness, kidney problems, infections, neurological disorders, strokes, and other complications.

Having a diagnosis of sickle cell anemia by itself will not be sufficient to qualify you for disability benefits. You must be able to show that your sickle cell anemia prevents you from going to work or maintaining a sustainable job. If you suffer frequent crises that require hospitalization, for instance, it could provide evidence that your condition qualifies you for benefits.

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Published on: June 22, 2020

Recovering Disability Benefits for Scoliosis

By Lisa Siegel

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Scoliosis is a condition that leads to a curvature of the spine. Recovering Social Security disability benefits for this condition can be tricky because there is no separate disability listing for scoliosis.

To qualify for benefits, typically your benefits should be included in the Social Security Administration’s blue book of listings. If the listing is not included, you may qualify for benefits if the symptoms of the condition are similar to symptoms of other conditions that are included in the listing. While there is no separate disability listing for scoliosis, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits for spinal disorders for which there is a separate disability listing. These symptoms may also very closely mimic the symptoms found in other conditions that may be included in the disability listing, like respiratory or cardiovascular diseases. You may be eligible to file for benefits for those conditions.

However, the responsibility is on you as the claimant to prove that your condition causes several symptoms, including extreme and chronic pain, muscle pain, inability to walk, weakness, and other symptoms. In order to prove the existence of these symptoms, you must provide the results of medical imaging tests, including CT scans, X-rays, MRIs.

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Published on: September 13, 2019

ATLANTA SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY HEARING STATISTICS

By Lisa Siegel

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The process of applying for Social Security disability benefits is long and tedious, and it can be months before your claim is processed. There are always thousands of Social Security disability cases pending hearing before administrative law judges. Social Security disability claimants in the metro Atlanta area can visit either the Downtown Atlanta office or the North Atlanta office. As of June 2019, according to data reported by the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, 7539 cases were pending in the Downtown area and 4564 cases pending in the North area.

The average processing time per claim in the Downtown office was 579 days with an average of 1.89 dispositions. The total number of hearings as of June this year was 4077. A Social Security disability hearing allows claimants to present more documentation and solid evidence to increase their chances of recovering disability benefits. While there are options of online hearings, most hearings are held in person. The in-person hearing rate percentage at the Atlanta Downtown office was 93.5. The Downtown office has one of the highest rates of in-person hearings in the country.

At the Atlanta North office, the processing time was 463 days with 1.96 administrative law judge hearings taking place per judge. There were a total of 2606 hearings conducted, and the percentage of in-person hearings was 76.6.

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Published on: August 12, 2019

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

By Lisa Siegel

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Since the symptoms of myasthenia gravis so closely mirror chronic fatigue syndrome and several other fatigue-causing conditions, a complete diagnosis of the condition is important to help you recover Social Security disability benefits for your condition. The results of diagnostic tests performed by your doctor, that too at times when your muscles are at their most fatigued will help. Since myasthenia gravis can be episodic, there may be periods of severe symptoms followed by periods of remission. Your medical records will prove vital.

Another possible route to recovery of the Social Security disability benefits that you qualify for is the medical-vocational allowance path which will focus on the types of work that you are unable to do as a result of your condition. For example, if the condition has resulted in extreme weakness in your arms or hands, you may not be able to lift things which makes manual work very difficult or impossible to do.

If you suffer from myasthenia gravis, discuss your eligibility for benefits with this law firm by calling (404) 255- 9838.

Published on: May 22, 2019

LIVING WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS: ELIGIBILITY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS

By Lisa Siegel

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that can result in frequent lung infections. Over a period of time, the disease may limit the person’s ability to breathe. Some common symptoms include persistent, chronic cough, typically with thick mucus, shortness of breath, and wheezing. A person with cystic fibrosis may begin his days with violent coughing and vomiting of thick mucus. In this condition, the mucus that is generated is thick, and not thin and runny. The mucus clogs passageways inside the body, including the lungs.

Persons suffering from cystic fibrosis may also suffer from frequent infections, like pneumonia and bronchitis. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry estimates that in the United States more than 30,000 people live with this condition. The severity of the symptoms can vary from person to person. There is no permanent cure for cystic fibrosis. Fortunately, life expectancies for patients have been steadily increasing over the years, and patents can now live well into their 50s.

The Social Security Administration considers cystic fibrosis to be a serious condition that can impact a person’s ability to work and earn an income. If you suffer from poor breathing, have been hospitalized at least three different times in the past 12 months, or have suffered respiratory failure in the past 12 months, your disability claim may be processed and approved quickly. Even if you do not suffer from this level of severity, you may still qualify for disability benefits.

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Published on: April 26, 2019

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR AUTISM?

By Lisa Siegel

The term “autism” refers to a broad range of conditions that can result in challenges in verbal and non-verbal communication, social skills, and speech and language skills. Symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the condition. This latter fact is also what makes recovering disability benefits for autism extra challenging for persons who suffer from the condition.

If your child suffers from autism, and your income and asset levels are not above the limits set by the Social Security Administration, you may qualify to receive SSI benefits. The eligibility criteria is different for adults with autism, however. If your income and asset levels are below limits set by the federal agency, then you may qualify for and receive benefits under the SSI program.

Adults with autism may also qualify for disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Program. For this, however, you must have paid into the SSDI program, which means that you must have a work history and have paid into the system during this work tenure. You must also prove that your condition makes it impossible for you to work at your job and earn a sustainable income. The agency will determine whether your disability prevents you from working at your old job. If the agency finds that you can meet the demands of the job, then you might not qualify for benefits.

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Published on: April 10, 2019

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR GLAUCOMA

By Lisa Siegel

This year, the World Glaucoma Association and World Glaucoma Patient Association partnered together for World Glaucoma Awareness Week from March 9-14th. The event aimed to raise awareness about this disabling eye disorder, and encourage screening for the disease. Glaucoma is an eye condition in which there is damage to the optic nerve which causes an accumulation of pressure inside your eye. This pressure progressively increases, and the result can be complete vision loss. If treatment does not begin in time, the patient may go completely blind in a few years. Unfortunately, there is no complete cure for glaucoma. Early intervention, however, can delay the progression of the disease.

A family history of glaucoma may place you at an increased risk of the condition. If you have a family history of glaucoma, you should be getting your eyes screened for this condition at least once every year if you are above the age of 40. Other risk factors can include the prevalence of diabetes, injuries to the eye, and untreated eye infections and inflammations. Glaucoma can, however, affect all people, and not just the middle-aged or elderly.

If you are suffering from Glaucoma, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits under the list of impairments reserved for those with vision loss. However, just a diagnosis of glaucoma may not be enough for you to recover disability benefits. Vision loss at the earliest stages of the disorder may be minimal, and you may still be able to engage in “substantial gainful activity” which is work that can earn you a sustainable income.

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Published on: April 5, 2019

MY CHILD HAS DOWN SYNDROME: DOES HE QUALIFY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?

By Lisa Siegel

March is Trisomy Awareness month and is dedicated to promoting awareness of this condition. Trisomy 21, known as Down syndrome, is a genetic disorder that is characterized by the presence of three chromosomes, instead of the normal pair of chromosomes. Down syndrome is the most commonly known trisomy disorder. The other two disorders are Patau Syndrome or Trisomy 13, and Edwards syndrome or Trisomy 18.

Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic birth defects. In the United States, it is believed to affect as many as one in 800 people. The condition is characterized by unique facial characteristics, impairment in intellectual and mental functioning, and other birth defects. Also, as many as 50% of all babies born with Down syndrome are diagnosed with a heart defect. Children born with Trisomy 21 can also be at risk for intestinal malformation which may necessitate surgeries. They may also be at risk for hearing trouble, as well as several types of vision problems, including near or far-sightedness and cataracts.

Qualifying for disability benefits for a child diagnosed with Down syndrome will depend on the type of Down syndrome that the child suffers from. The most common form is called non-Mosaic Down syndrome, a condition in which the child has an extra chromosome 21 in every cell. The other type is Mosaic Down syndrome in which some cells have the Trisomy 21 chromosome, and some cells have a regular number of chromosomes.

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Published on: March 25, 2019

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR HYPERSOMNIA

By Lisa Siegel

Hypersomnia is a sleep disorder marked by excessive sleepiness in the day time. Patients with this condition may find it hard to stay awake in the day time, making it difficult for them to work. Those suffering from idiopathic hypersomnia may have trouble staying awake for more than a couple of hours in the day.

There are several potential causes of hypersomnia. Persons who suffer from narcolepsy or sleep apnea may be at a higher risk of suffering from hypersomnia. Obesity, a head or brain injury, drug use, alcohol abuse, and depression may also make one at a higher risk of developing this condition. A doctor may use a number of tests including CT scans and polysomonographies in order to identify the presence of a sleep disorder. An Electroencephalogram (EEG) may also be ordered to evaluate the functioning of the brain.

If you are applying for a claim for disability benefits for idiopathic hypersomnia, ensure that you submit all medical evidence. This includes the results of your CT scans, polysomnography tests, or EEG tests. It’s quite likely that your claim will be denied at first. In the case of idiopathic hypersomnia, it is very important to provide evidence not only of your symptoms but also how they make it difficult for you to stay awake for longer periods of time. There are medications that can help a person to stay awake, and the Social Security Administration will want to know if you are on these drugs and if they are helping you to stay awake.

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Published on: January 7, 2019

WHAT MENTAL DISORDERS QUALIFY FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS?

By Lisa Siegel

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes the impact mental disorders have on many American’s lives and their potential to cause long-term disability. In order to be eligible for disability benefits for a mental disorder, the condition must be diagnosed by a doctor and meet the criteria required for any disability including:

The mental disorder must prevent you from doing any work which you have done until now.
The disorder must make you unable to reasonably train for another job.

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