While millions of people in this country are able to continue working despite their diabetes, many others suffer from physical damage that can make it impossible to effectively perform the functions of their job. If your diabetes is preventing you from working, it is important to talk to a knowledgeable attorney about your situation.
At Crowe & Shanahan in St. Louis, we are committed to helping people with diabetes get the Social Security Disability benefits they need. You can rely on receiving the one-on-one representation you deserve from an accessible attorney who thinks of you as a person, not just another case file number.
Unlike many Social Security Disability firms, we aren’t worried about maintaining a national practice. We take pride in focusing our resources right here in St. Louis, eastern Missouri and southern Illinois. To schedule a consultation with a St. Louis diabetes disability attorney, please contact our law office online or call 314-312-1594.
Diabetes can have many damaging effects that make working difficult or impossible. Among the common damage associated with diabetes is:
To qualify for benefits, we will have to demonstrate that your ability to function is being hampered by diabetes and its complications. Our lawyers can work directly with your doctors to help document the severity of your disability and your limitations. You will have to be unable to work for a continuous period of at least 12 months. However, if you are eventually able to return to work, you could receive back pay for your closed period of disability.
Doctors usually diagnose diabetes as either Type 1 or Type 2. People with Type 1 diabetes have bodies that don’t make insulin. People with Type 2 diabetes have bodies that can’t use insulin correctly. More than 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition caused by an overactive immune system. Type 2 diabetes is a hormonal condition in which the body does make insulin but has insulin resistance. The cells in the muscles, liver, and fat stop responding to the insulin the pancreas makes, and over time, the pancreas produces less and less.
People with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin because their bodies don’t make it. Some people with Type 2 diabetes take insulin when their bodies don’t produce sufficient insulin. Other medications may help people with Type 2 manage their condition. In both types of diabetes, lifestyle changes, like eating a healthy diet and managing stress, are beneficial.
You must speak directly to an experienced SSDI/SSI attorney regarding your exact situation, but certain conditions lead to extended periods of being unable to work:
Eligibility for SSDI benefits is based on multiple factors. First, you must have paid Social Security taxes while you were working. Next, you must have built up sufficient “work credits.” You can earn up to four each year. Most people need 40 credits to be eligible, earning 20 of them in the ten years before you become disabled. There are different requirements for people under 31.
Another factor in your eligibility if you are still working is that your work income cannot exceed “Substantial Gainful Activity,” which is the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) monthly income limit. The SGA for 2026 is $1,690 for most people, and $2,830 for those who are blind. If your work income exceeds SGA, you will not be eligible for SSDI benefits.
If you meet all those criteria, there are essentially two ways an SSDI claim can be approved. First, you can meet a listing in SSA’s Blue Book. Some severe complications of diabetes, including vision loss or chronic kidney disease, have defined criteria. If you meet the listing requirements, you could qualify.
The second way to qualify is through a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) evaluation. This evaluation determines the functional impact of your condition on your ability to work. An RFC covers your:
These functional limitations must be well documented to meet the SSA’s disability criteria.
The best way to build a strong SSDI application is to hire an experienced lawyer from the law firm of Crowe & Shanahan to handle the application process for you. Whether you’re in the St. Louis area or over the river in Illinois, we’ll take on all the work that goes with filing the application. All you have to do is turn your claim over to us.
To build a strong application, we’ll:
Many SSDI claims are denied at first. Should your application get denied, your St. Louis SSDI attorney will file a request for reconsideration on Form SSA-561 within the allotted 60 days. We’ll add new medical evidence that can strengthen your claim, including updated treatment notes, physician statements, or new test results.
If the request for reconsideration is denied, we’ll request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). We’ll present your case in person. This gives us the opportunity to discuss your case with the judge and answer any questions they may have.
In the event that the ALJ denies your claim, we may request an Appeals Council review. The Appeals Council can either deny your request or send your case back to an ALJ.
Finally, we can take your case to federal court to challenge the SSA’s decision.
Diabetes can lead to disabling conditions that prevent you from working. When you find yourself in this situation, you need income. Hiring a lawyer from a law firm like Crowe & Shanahan that represents people in the St. Louis area and across the Mississippi River in Illinois can give you the help you need.
A skilled attorney from our law firm can:
Even after your application for SSDI benefits is approved, you may have to wait to get your first check. There is a five-month waiting period that starts with the date your disability began. It takes the SSA at least three months to process your claim, and sometimes longer. However, after you’re approved, you may wait up to two months for your first check.
For example, if you became disabled on January 10, your five-month waiting period ends on July 10, and you won’t get a check for those five months of benefits until August. However, if the SSA hasn’t finished processing your claim by then, you could wait longer. Filing for SSDI benefits as soon as you think you may be entitled to receive them is important.
Whether you have Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes, if your condition is preventing you from working, we can help. Contact our St. Louis law office online today, or call our firm at 314-312-1594, to schedule a consultation with a seasoned Social Security Disability lawyer.
We take pride in the strong professional and personal relationships we build with each client. You will meet with the attorney early on and that same attorney will be with you throughout the process. You can rely on us to give you honest advice about your options because this is the right thing to do.
As your advocates, we will remain by your side throughout the process, developing a strategy that fits your specific circumstances. Your legal and financial issues are unique, so we tailor our advice according to your situation. Many individuals and families have benefited from this legal approach.
