Charlotte Social Security Disability Blog

What medical conditions qualify for Social Security Disability?

On behalf of Bridgman Law Offices posted in social security disability benefits for illness on Thursday, January 23, 2020.

Many applicants diagnosed with a condition that falls on the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) "Listing of Medical Impairments" will generally qualify to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Individuals who've been diagnosed with other illnesses or impairments that aren't listed there may also be eligible for these benefits if they meet certain additional requirements.

Medical conditions that are listed on the SSA's Listing of Impairments are organized by bodily system. These injuries or illnesses include:

Speech or sensory concerns including hearing or vision loss
Immune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and lupus
Blood disorders like hemophilia and sickle cell disease
Digestive concerns such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and liver problems
Mental health conditions including autism, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression
Respiratory concerns such as cystic fibrosis and asthma
Neurological disorders including cerebral palsy, epilepsy or Parkinson's disease
Musculoskeletal problems including back, bone and joint problems
Cardiovascular disease including chronic heart failure

What is Supplemental Security Income, and are you eligible?

On behalf of Bridgman Law Offices on Thursday, January 16, 2020.

If you are unable to work because of a medical condition, you may be wondering what this means for your financial health. It can be difficult to pay for things you need, get medical care and simply make ends meet when you do not have sufficient income. If you find yourself in this position, you may be eligible for disability income from the Social Security Administration.

Simply having a serious medical condition is not necessarily enough to qualify you for these benefits, and there are different types of disability benefits as well. If you are not eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, you could be eligible for Supplemental Security income. It is in your interests to ensure that you understand eligibility requirements and how to move forward with your application.

How do your living arrangements impact your SSI benefits?

On behalf of Bridgman Law Offices posted in ssi supplemental security income on Wednesday, January 15, 2020.

If you're considering applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, it's essential to understand what factors affect your eligibility and the amount you're able to receive under the program's regulations.

These federal benefits are available to those who:

Are at least 65 year old, blind or disabled
Are a U.S. citizen or legal resident
Have limited income and resources

Can a person return to work and still collect benefits?

On behalf of Bridgman Law Offices posted in social security disability on Thursday, January 9, 2020.

There are many residents of Charlotte who have had to apply for Social Security Disability benefits. These benefits are available to help people who are no longer able to work. They can help a person continue to provide for their family but, if a person wants to return to work, will they lose these benefits?

If a person is receiving Social Security Disability benefits and their condition has improved enough for them to return to work, they will be able to keep their Disability benefits for a trial period. A person needs to inform the Social Security Administration that they intend to return to work and the SSA will assign a trial period.

Social Security Disability and Acceptable Medical Sources

On behalf of Bridgman Law Offices posted in social security disability on Thursday, January 2, 2020.

Charlotte area residents who are living with a serious illness or injury may want to investigate whether they are eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD). SSD is a program to help those who are no longer able to work because of a serious illness. In order for a person to qualify for SSD they must have a medical diagnosis from an approved medical source. Not every provider is an approved medical source for diagnosing a disability.

Social Security disability can be the answer to a person's prayers. When a person is no longer able to work because of an injury or illness, they may still be eligible to receive SSD payments. An approved medical source is necessary to provide evidence of the disability.

New proposal could affect SSD benefits for millions

On behalf of Bridgman Law Offices posted in social security disability on Thursday, December 26, 2019.

The process for obtaining Social Security benefits is often an arduous one, and some people in Charlotte may find it takes years before they are finally approved. While approval for benefits is certainly a victory, a proposal published in the Federal Register in November has the potential to affect hundreds of thousands of SSD benefit recipients in our nation who may face the risk of losing their benefits.

Currently, after a person is approved for SSD benefits, the Social Security Administration will periodically review the recipient's medical condition to determine if benefits are still necessary. These are known as continuing disability reviews. How often CDRs are performed depends on the category the recipient's disability falls under.

Can you collect workers' comp and SSD benefits at the same time?

On behalf of Bridgman Law Offices posted in social security disability on Thursday, December 19, 2019.

Injuries in the workplace are not uncommon. Sometimes when a person in Charlotte is injured at work they pursue workers' compensation benefits to tide them over financially until they can return to their job.

But, if a worker's injury seems to be permanent and the worker believes he or she may never be able to return to work, any type of work, he or she may wish to pursue Social Security disability benefits as well. However, there are rules regarding receiving workers' compensation benefits while also collecting SSD benefits.

Could your PTSD be debilitating enough that you can't work?

On behalf of Bridgman Law Offices on Friday, December 13, 2019.

Life can sometimes throw you for a loop. For years, you went about your life free from the tragedies that tend to touch many people here in North Carolina and beyond.

Then one day, you suffered some sort of trauma that changed your life forever. You finally went to see someone because you just can't seem to move forward. It was then you received a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

How many work credits do you need to qualify for SSD benefits?

On behalf of Bridgman Law Offices posted in social security disability on Wednesday, December 11, 2019.

When a person in Charlotte decides to pursue Social Security disability benefits, they may be surprised to learn that it is not enough simply to have a serious illness or injury.

There are other requirements that must be met in order to qualify for SSD benefits, including having the requisite number of work credits.

Mental illness affects millions of Americans

On behalf of Bridgman Law Offices posted in social security disability benefits for mental conditions on Thursday, December 5, 2019.

While public awareness of the problem is growing, mental illness is much more common than many people realize. According to some estimates, as many as 1 in 5 American adults experience mental illness, and as many as 1 in 25 live with a serious mental illness.

The most common mental illness diagnoses are for anxiety and depression. These affect tens of millions of Americans, and they can vary greatly in terms of their intensity and duration. For some, these conditions are temporary or intermittent, but for others they can be chronic and severe.