St. Louis Social Security Disability Law Blog

Social Security Disability benefits now cover 5 new conditions

On behalf of Crowe & Shanahan posted in Social Security Administration News on Friday, September 21, 2018.

Five new conditions were added to the list of Compassionate Allowance Conditions (CACs) by the Social Security Administration (SSA) during the first week of September. Those illnesses that on this list are ones that qualify an individual to receive disability benefits.

The five newly added conditions include megaalencephaly capillary malformation syndrome (MCAP), tetrasomy 18p, fibroalamellar cancer, superficial siderosis of the central nervous system and megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS). These conditions join others such as acute leukemia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and pancreatic cancer on the list. Currently, there are 233 CACs.

An example of a Social Security disability claim

On behalf of Crowe & Shanahan posted in Social Security Disability on Friday, September 14, 2018.

Imagine that you've suddenly become seriously ill or injured and you can no longer perform your job duties. You may be able to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits to help make financial ends meet. These important and helpful government benefits, however, are not available to everyone. You need to pass the Social Security office's strict requirements before your application for benefits is approved.

To illuminate the SSD qualifications that you'll need to meet, here is a fictional example of a Social Security disability claim that would probably succeed in obtaining benefits:

When digestive issues affect your ability to work

On behalf of Crowe & Shanahan on Tuesday, September 11, 2018.

In a culture that laughs at potty humor, it can be hard for people to take digestive issues seriously. What someone else passes off as just a one-time stomach ache that happened due to poor dietary choices can be a recurring and debilitating problem for you despite a healthy lifestyle.

When your digestive system gets so bad that you are unable to work anywhere and are without a means of income for more than a year, you may be eligible to apply for Social Security disability benefits. Digestive disorders can qualify as serious impairments under the law.

Those with severe Crohn's symptoms may qualify for disability

On behalf of Crowe & Shanahan posted in Social Security Disability on Friday, September 7, 2018.

If you've known someone who has been diagnosed with the digestive disorder Crohn's, then you've likely witnessed first hand just how debilitating of a disease that this condition can be.

A large majority of those who have Crohn's experience occasional mild to moderate flare-ups that can be managed through medical interventions. For a select few, though, their condition affects other organs and causes debilitating symptoms. If it impacts their ability to work, then they may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

What makes an anxiety disorder disabling?

On behalf of Crowe & Shanahan posted in Social Security Disability Benefits for Mental Conditions on Friday, August 31, 2018.

If you're diagnosed with an anxiety or panic disorder, the odds are good that you have all the symptoms that are necessary to meet the Social Security Administration's (SSA) definition of the disorder -- but qualifying for disability benefits isn't quite that simple.

The SSA sets forth the elements that have to be proven in order to consider an anxiety disorder severe enough to be disabling in its "Listing of Impairments." Aside from the symptoms of anxiety, panic or obsessive-compulsive disorder, you also have to demonstrate one of two things:

What are the most common Social Security Disability conditions?

On behalf of Crowe & Shanahan posted in Social Security Disability on Friday, August 24, 2018.

Every human being gets sick at some time or another. If such a sickness is long-term and it prevents you from working, it will have catastrophic financial implications for you and your family. This is why the U.S. Social Security Disability system exists -- to help you make ends meet if you're too ill or disabled to work for more than a year or suffering from a condition that will lead to your death.

The list of qualifying medical conditions is extensive when it comes to Social Security benefits in the United States; however, in terms of the people who are currently receiving these vital government benefits, there are some conditions that dominate:

Social Security celebrates 83 years in existence

On behalf of Crowe & Shanahan posted in Social Security Administration News on Friday, August 17, 2018.

Social Security (SS) just celebrated its 83rd birthday on Aug. 14. In case you're trying to do the math, this means that it's been in existence since 1935 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt was still in office.

The Social Security Act was originally signed into law as a way of ensuring that aging or retired workers would have an income coming in on a monthly basis to help support them and their living expenses. Although the bill was signed into effect five years prior, the first such payout didn't occur until the first day of 1940.

There are many risk factors for lower back pain

On behalf of Crowe & Shanahan posted in Social Security Disability Benefits for Injuries on Sunday, August 12, 2018.

Data compiled by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that as much as 80 percent of all adults may have to endure lower back pain while alive. Statistics also show that back pain is a leading reason why workers are forced to call in sick to work or file for disability. Data suggests that men and women are afflicted with lower back pain equitably and that it generally starts between the ages of 30 and 50 and worsens with age.

While many low back pain suffers are forced to endure a persistent, nagging aching sensation on a regular basis, a select few have to instead live with sporadic, acute or stabbing pain or discomfort.

2 big myths about SSDI debunked

On behalf of Crowe & Shanahan on Friday, August 10, 2018.

Once your doctor informs you that you have a mental, medical or a combination of ailments that prevent you from working and earning a living in St. Louis, you might have some concerns about Social Security disability benefits. There are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation out there that may have you feeling confused and unsure of your situation and what to do.

Social Security disability insurance is a federal program that provides benefits for people who suffer from disabilities that render them unfit for work. To better understand what SSDI is and how it could apply to your situation, look at the following myths about the program. Disabilities can be either mental, physical or a combination of the two. You do not necessarily have to look disabled to qualify or receive your Social Security benefits. Your qualifying condition(s) must fall under the Social Security’s Administration’s guidelines. To get SSDI benefits, you must be incapable of working any kind of job for at least 12 months or longer.

Disability benefits for your hearing loss aren't guaranteed

On behalf of Crowe & Shanahan posted in Social Security Disability on Friday, August 3, 2018.

If you suffer from a disabling physical or mental injury that prevents you from working, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to cover food, housing and medical costs. In order to qualify for such benefits, your injury must extend beyond a certain threshold. Hearing loss can result in your receiving SSDI.

In Section 2.10 of the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Blue Book, it details what criteria you must meet if you experience a hearing loss that cannot be resolved via the use of a cochlear implant. It describes how an individual who receives a 40 percent or lower monsyllable word recognition test score may qualify as having a disability.

How can you get the Social Security disability benefits you need?