Blog posts

Social Security disability benefits provide financial assistance for millions of Americans each year. In order to qualify, applicants must show that their disability is severe enough to prevent them from working or living independently.

Because of Social Security’s in-depth application process, it can be tricky to figure out how to qualify. Below, we will show you how you can measure your medical qualifications by comparing your diagnosis to the Blue Book.

How the Blue Book Works

Disability applicants qualify as disabled when they can show that their condition:

Helen Keller was one of the first deaf-blind Americans to break the mold and prove that no disability can prevent a person from living their best life. Despite her disability, Helen Keller went on to become an author, a lecturer, and the first deaf-blind recipient of a Bachelor of Arts degree. As of 1984, the last week of each June is dedicated to Helen Keller and all deaf-blind individuals by spreading awareness of the disorder.

Continue below to learn more about what it means to be deaf-blind and how you can do your part to help those affected by the disorder.

Every June, millions of people across the globe “go purple” as they band together in an effort to spread awareness, raise money, and raise hope in the effort to end Alzheimer’s and other brain and memory disorders.

Almost every person in the United States has been affected by Alzheimer’s in some capacity, whether they’ve watched a loved one experience it or they are going through it themselves.

With knowledge and dedication, you can be a part of a future that will officially end Alzheimer’s for good.

More than 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with cataracts every year. However, even with its prevalence, there are still many misconceptions about what cataracts are, how they are caused, and how they can be treated. Some people with early cataracts symptoms may even develop a more severe condition because of their lack of knowledge about the disorder at its warning signs.

On Thursday, May 4th, the House of Representatives narrowly passed the American Health Care Act, or ACHA. The ACHA is intended to replace “Obamacare,” or the Affordable Care Act. The bill narrowly passed the House with a 217-213 vote, and still has yet to pass the Senate. If the bill does continue as is, the ACHA may affect you or your loved ones if you have a disability. Here are some key points of the ACHA:

The Adult Disability Report form, which is also known as Form SSA 3368, is one of the first and most important forms of a disability claim. This report is the cornerstone of your disability application with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and provides Disability Determination Services (DDS) with what they need to review your claim and make a decision on your eligibility for benefits.

The Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) rules for disability are strict. Even with a serious heart condition, you may not meet the severity level requirements to receive benefits. If you have a heart attack, then you may now qualify for disability, even if you didn’t before. It really depends on your specific circumstances, including how severe your chronic cardiac condition is and how significant your post-heart attack impairments are.