If you suffer from a herniated disc, and you believe it will make you unable to work for at least 12 months, you may qualify for SSD benefits with a herniated disc. You should gather supporting evidence and documentation to make sure your claim is in order.
Here are five possible signs your disability claim will be approved for a herniated disc.
Sign 1: You meet the non-medical requirements.
To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) you must have worked enough to have paid in sufficient credits. For most people, that means you must have worked the equivalent of five years full-time out of the last ten years. A call to the SSA or a review of your account online could answer this question for you.
Sign 2: You have sufficient medical evidence.
Many disability claims are denied during the initial review simply because the claimant fails to provide sufficient medical evidence. If you have hard medical evidence and a lot of medical proof, you can increase your odds of being awarded disability benefits.
Sign 3: Your condition will make you unable to work for at least 12 months.
If you cannot work for at least a year because of your herniated disc, you will have a chance for having your disability claim approved. You will need to provide supporting evidence from your physician that shows your condition is not expected to improve enough for you to return to work during the next year.
Sign 4: Your condition can match or meet a Blue Book listing.
The SSA uses a medical guide called the Blue Book to determine if a claimant qualifies as disabled. There are listings for different medical conditions and each condition has specific criteria that must be met for a claim to be approved.
For a herniated disc, you must show that your condition leads to a compromise of a nerve root or the spinal cord causing distributed pain, limited spinal motion, and or motor loss because of the atrophying of muscles that are not used, causes reflex or sensory loss, and if the lower back is involved, motion in the legs is limited and that is apparent through a positive straight-leg raising test (SLR).
If you cannot meet the listing criteria, you can use a medical vocational allowance and the help of a residual functional capacity (RFC) form completed by your physician. The RFC may clearly indicate what you can and cannot do because of the herniated disc and will allow the disability examiner to determine if you can work.
Sign 5: You are working with a disability attorney to help you through the claims process.
A disability lawyer may make sure you have strong supporting evidence, all your medical records are in order and ready for review, and that your condition meets the criteria of a listing to be approved. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation today to get in touch with a participating attorney in our network that takes cases in your area!
Additional Resources:
- Signs That You Will Be Approved for Disability
- Tips On Qualifying For Disability Benefits With A Herniated Disc
- How Can An Attorney Help Your Herniated Disc Claim?
- What Documents Do I Need to Apply For SSD With a Herniated Disc?
- Benefits of Applying for SSDI With a Herniated Disc
- Permanent Restrictions After Developing a Herniated Disc
