Someone in Virginia has a stroke each hour of the day, and nearly 3,300 Virginians die from strokes each year. While these numbers are staggering, there is good news. Stroke care is improving tremendously within the state. Further, there are resources available to stroke survivors within Virginia.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) works with Virginia residents who are no longer able to work as a result of a serious health impairment, such as a stroke. While not all stroke survivors will qualify for disability benefits, many individuals have been offered financial help after their brain injury.Neurologists in Virginia
If you have had a stroke, you know personally how life-altering it can be. The days and weeks following a stroke are often a blur, filled with numerous health evaluations, tests, and visits with healthcare practitioners. Leading your stroke team is most typically a neurologist.
Neurologists are physician experts who specialize in disorders of the brain and nervous system. They are the leading professionals when it comes to stroke care and recovery.
Not only will your neurologist play an essential role in your health recovery, he or she will also be instrumental in helping you earn the disability benefits that you so desperately need. The SSA will turn to your neurologist for medical records, as well as for expert opinion on your prognosis.
As your neurologist has followed your care from your stroke until now, it is likely that this doctor has the best long-term view of your health.
It is important to meet with your neurologist and discuss your intentions in seeking disability benefits. It makes sense to review section 11.04 of the Blue Book with your neurologist.
The Blue Book is the guide used by the SSA to help determine which conditions are severe enough to warrant disability payments, as well as what criteria are needed to earn an award.
While most stroke survivors have an established relationship with a neurologist, not all do. If you are seeking to meet with a neurologist, here are three practices located in Virginia:
Sentara Neurology Specialists
1950 Glenn Mitchell Drive, Suite 200
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
757) 507-0600
Neurology Consultants of Tidewater
Halifax Building
6161 Kempsville Circle, Suite 315
Norfolk, VA 23502
757) 461-5400
Neurological Associates
7607 Forest Avenue, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23229
(804) 288-9053
Stroke Support Groups in Virginia
While the physical aspect of healing after a stroke is critical, so is the emotional and social healing as well. Having a stroke is a sudden event that creates an immediate upheaval in one’s life. Those who are surrounded by a supportive community have the best chances of recovery.
Support can come in various ways, such as that provided by family, friends, or the community. Additionally, many stroke survivors have found great comfort in attending a stroke support group. Support groups can offer a level of understanding that may not be found elsewhere.
The shared experience of those in the support group can help to ward off the common side-effects of depression and isolation.
There are stroke support groups sprinkled throughout the state of Virginia. Here are three groups located in various cities throughout the state:
Stroke Support Group
Meets Every 3rd Wednesday from 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
1060 First Colonial Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
(757) 395-1235
Centera Stroke Support Group
Meets Every 2nd Thursday from 6:00 -7:30 pm
Centera Day Rehab
890 Kempsville Road
Norfolk, VA 23502
757) 261-0855
Sheltering Arms Stroke Support Group
Meets Every 2nd Wednesday from 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Sheltering Arms Hospital- Hanover
Conference Room #3
8254 Altee Road
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
(804) 764-5290
Applying for Social Security Disability for Stroke in Virginia
If you have had a stroke, you might be wondering what the process is like for obtaining disability benefits. The Social Security Administration has two distinct programs that may of assistance to you.
While the SSI program is income based, the SSDI program is available to all individuals who have paid taxes into the system.
The SSA will consult the Blue Book to determine if you meet the criteria required to earn disability benefits. Even if you do not meet the specific listing, you may still qualify for financial assistance based on the combination of your residual impairments.
The SSDI program is meant for individuals who are permanently disabled. Therefore, the impacts of your stroke must last, or be expected to continue, for at least one year. Further, as the long-term consequences of your stroke may not be immediately known, the SSA requires that a full three months have passed since your stroke before filing for disability benefits.
If you feel that you meet the outlined criteria, you can apply for Social Security benefits online. Alternatively, you can visit one of the several physical locations throughout the state of Virginia. Listed here are three offices in the state:
Virginia Beach Social Security Office 23452
2875 Sabre St Suite 100
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452
(888) 377-5237
Norfolk Social Security Office 23502
5850 Lake Herbert Drive, First Floor
Norfolk, Virginia 23502
(800) 772-1213
Richmond Social Security Office 23220
1834 West Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23220
(800) 772-1213
Can A Social Security Disability Lawyer Help Me for My Stroke in Virginia?
Applying for Social Security disability benefits is complicated. In addition to completing a lengthy application, you will need to gather and include all of the relevant medical information to support your claim. This can be an arduous task for those who are just beginning to recover from a stroke.
Hiring an experienced disability lawyer may be one of the best things that you can do for yourself. A Social Security attorney has likely worked with many stroke survivors in the past, and thus understands the best way to craft your case so that you can earn the disability benefits that you so desperately need.
