Although most cases start with mild symptoms, Parkinson’s disease can morph into a devastating condition that leads to severe shaking and stiffness, as well as difficulty walking and talking. To improve a claim for Social Security disability benefits, you have to meet the medical and non-medical requirements established by the Social Security Administration (SSA), prove you have not worked for the past 12 months, and exceed the standards listed in the Blue Book.
Most important, anyone suffering from Parkinson’s disease who plans to submit a disability benefits claim should work with a Social Security attorney.
Meet the Non-Medical Requirements
As the first of five signs that you will be approved for disability, meeting the non-medical requirements imposed by the SSA begins by gaining enough work credits to qualify for financial assistance. The SSA determines work credits by using a formula that includes your annual wages or the money you have earned through self-employment.
For 2020, Social Security disability applicants acquire one work credit for every $1,410 generated in wages or through self-employment income. When you reach $11,280, you earn eight work credits. The number of work credits the SSA establishes for disability benefits eligibility depends on an applicant’s age when the applicant received a diagnosis for a disabling medical condition.
Submit Persuasive Medical Documentation
Submitting compelling medical records is the most persuasive element of your Social Security disability benefits application. You should submit every diagnostic report to give the SSA insight into how your Parkinson’s symptoms might have deteriorated. Diagnostic reports for Parkinson’s include imaging tests such as an MRI. Ask your doctor to complete the paperwork for every treatment appointment, including any documentation that describes a rehabilitation regimen. Receipts for medication should also accompany the medical document you submit to the SSA. One document that many applicants with Parkinson’s fail to submit is a prognosis made by your doctor about the potential for you to make a full or partial recovery.
Miss Work for 12 Months
One of the first things the SSA looks for to have disability benefits approved for Parkinson’s is verifying an applicant has misses 12 consecutive months of work. If you missed work for eight months, returned to work for a few months, and then missed four months of work, you do not meet the 12-month criteria set by the SSA.
Meet Every Blue Book Standard
Referred to by the SSA when evaluating disability benefits claims, the Blue Book lists every medical condition and the accompanying symptoms that qualify applicants for financial assistance. A team of medical examiners analyzes your claim to determine whether your Parkinson’s disease symptoms meet the level of severity that is required by the SSA. If you fail to meet the Blue Book guidelines for Parkinson’s, you should consider undergoing a Residual Functionality Capacity (RFC) assessment, An RFC assessment determines how much work you can complete while dealing with Parkinson’s disease.
Hire a Social Security Disability Benefits Lawyer
The SSA denies a majority of Social Security disability benefits applications, which means you should work with a state-licensed attorney who can help you file the proper documents and meet every standard established by the SSA. With most applications taking months to conclude, a Social Security lawyer can check on the status of your application to ensure it receives attention promptly.
Schedule a free initial consultation with a Social Security lawyer today. Most attorneys that help clients with a disability benefits application get paid on a contingency fee basis.
