The process of applying for Social Security Disability is complex. The most straightforward way to win an award for your disabling illness is to meet the listing criteria of a particular condition in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Blue Book. However, many individuals do not meet a Blue Book listing, despite being severely disabled.
To an outsider, Social Security disability benefits may appear to be a ticket to government income. The perception that people receiving disability benefits are lazy is completely false. Anyone with a disability or who works with people with disabilities know how challenging it is to receive disability. The instances of fraud are few and far between: 8.5 million Americans receive SSDI, and 8 million receive SSI. Fraud occurs in less than 2% of these cases.
Each year over 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with a painful condition known as rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body’s immune system attacks tissue and joints and even internal organs. The disease attacks the tissues inside joints, causing very painful swelling. Over time, the joints can become deformed and bones can decay as a result.
Each year roughly 11,000 women in America will be diagnosed with cervical cancer. The earlier it is detected, the higher the likelihood of beating the disease, but the key is in prevention and early detection. That’s why January has been designated as Cervical Health Awareness Month.
If you are part of the LGBTQ community and you or your partner is receiving Social Security benefits, your family may be eligible for additional resources. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers monthly financial aid for people who have disabilities and are unable to work, or to people who have retired. Here’s a little more information on the benefits you and your family may be eligible to receive:
If you have cancer, you may be unable to work and earn a living. Cancers of any kind or stage can be disabling. Even if your cancer is caught early on and is treatable, the treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation can be disabling and cause a variety of side effects that affect your ability to perform daily activities or work and earn a living.
If you are no longer able to work because of a medical condition, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), which is a program that requires claimants to have worked and earned adequate credits, so they are covered by the program.
If you have applied for disability benefits because a medical condition has left you unable to work only to have your claim denied, you are not alone. Most disability claims – about 67 percent of them – are denied at the initial review. There is an even higher percentage of claims that are denied during the request for reconsideration. Finally, you will have the opportunity to request a hearing before an administrative law judge.
Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the state of South Carolina. According to the CDC, strokes took the lives of over 2,600 people in the Palmetto state in 2016 alone.
For individuals who survive a stroke, the road to recovery can be long and lined with obstacles. There are many federal and state resources available to assist those who have experienced a vascular insult to the brain. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers financial assistance to some individuals who are no longer able to work as a result of the long-term effects of a stroke.
Those who have survived a stroke can attest to how scary it can be to experience such a life-changing health crisis. Depending on the severity of the stroke, some people are left unable to work following their injury. In addition to working on health recovery, these individuals also must worry about their financial well-being.
