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If you have been injured in an accident, then you may be curious about what injuries are covered by government benefits. There are many injuries that could be classified as debilitating but just because an injury is categorized this way doesn’t mean it qualifies for Social Security Disability benefits.
If you are attempting to recover from an accident, then you may need to rely on Social Security Disability benefits as part of the compensation to help you recover.
There are many ways that an accident can change your life dramatically and it may be the case that you are never able to return to work again or that your life is significantly different as a result of the accident.
In this case, your West Palm Beach Social Security Disability lawyer may investigate your options for fighting for compensation in court so that you can have access to the funds you need. Even if an illness or injury is not disabling right away, you may still qualify for disability benefits if it develops down the road.
Social Security Disability Benefits
Social Security Disability is a government program and therefore there are strict qualifying procedures and rules. In order to qualify for these benefits you must demonstrate that you have a physical or mental disability that prevents you from doing work or obtaining any gainful employment, and that this disability will last or has lasted for at least one year or will result in death. The factors it is interpreted on are case-by-case basis.
What Does Gainful Work Mean?
The gainful and substantial work requirement is very restrictive and clear. If you have sustained a serious injury that causes you to miss so much work that you can no longer work in the field you were in before, you may still need to investigate whether you have the capability to earn income in another way.
If you cannot stand or lift materials, for example, Social Security Disability may evaluate whether you are able to work while sitting. If you do have this capability, you are likely to be denied SSD benefits.
You need to understand the distinction because it is not enough in every case if you are simply unable to return to the job you had before. You may need to demonstrate that your injury is so severe that it blocks you from having any kind of meaningful employment. During this process, your medical records will be a key component of determining this fact.
Social Security will analyze your records and may also request that you attend future medical appointments with doctors of their choice. If this happens, it is important that you attend these appointments. Make sure to take notes afterwards as well, since you may need to recall this information later on if you do need your appeal the initial decision handed down by SSD.
Approval or Denial Process
The Social Security Disability Office goes through a strict process to determine whether or not you qualify for benefits. This includes:
- Deciding if your average earnings at your current job are higher than the base amount set by SSD.
- If the severity of your condition impacts your ability to thrive.
- If your disability does indeed qualify under SSD guidelines.
- If you are able to do other types of work.
- If it is possible for you to continue working in your current field.
Some of the most common injuries that qualify for SSD are categorized below, but this is not an exhaustive list:
- Muscular skeletal injuries
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Respiratory system disorders
- Skin disorders
- Injuries to speech and other senses
- Mental disorders
- Immune system disorders
- Neurological disorders
- Endocrine disorders
- Hematological disorders
- Neoplastic diseases
- Congenital disorders