If You Have a Disability, Social Security Can Help
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: October 8, 2015
October is Disability Awareness Month. For Social Security, disability is always at the forefront of our conversations. We hear stories daily about Americans living with disabling conditions who need help from the system they contributed to during their working life. Their stories make us proud of the work we do.
Through our Faces and Facts of Disability website, we share the stories about what it means to receive disability benefits from Social Security. The site highlights some of the people who benefit from our programs. We believe that learning the facts and hearing peoples’ stories about disability allows for a better understanding of what’s perhaps the most misunderstood Social Security program.
The Social Security Act sets a very strict definition of disability. Social Security pays benefits to insured people who can’t work because they have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. The impairment must be so severe that it renders the person unable to perform not only his or her previous work, but also any other substantial work.
Social Security doesn’t provide temporary or partial disability benefits. Because the eligibility requirements are so strict, our disability beneficiaries are among the most severely impaired people in the country. Our new online resources, the state disability fact sheets and our national disability issue paper, provide specific information about our recipients’ demographics by state and congressional district. These resources are proof of Social Security’s economic impact and benefit to our most vulnerable citizens.
Disability is something we don’t like to think about, or we may think it can’t happen to us. But the odds of becoming disabled are greater than we realize. The Social Security disability program excels in providing services to people when they need it the most.
For us, disability has faces and names — among them Larry, Kiera, Ebbie, Charlotte, Jamie, and Christine. We want to invite you to come see their faces, and learn the facts. They are truly at the heart of what we do.
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Tags: Disability, SSA
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Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
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Luke M.
Here’s a good one for you… medicaid cut me off just after a hernia surgery. I have PAH and qualified as disabled (believe me, I’d rather be running marathons and working 60 hour weeks.. No longer happening under the ACA).
The Dr who led me through this DIED a few years ago and his inept office left me with nothing in the way of :the Doc died, here are your medical records” AND I recently started seizures ending the pathetic p/t job of mine.
I am 9 days away from no heart meds and no anti seizure meds with what will become bran damaging seizure after seizure.
Why is this happening? Any ideas where to go?
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Dean
I am not sure where to ask a question like this, but i n short I was laid from the last company I worked for in 2010, since I could not longer make it in to the office and the company in this case is not my problem. Having not missed a day of working since I was 17 years old, this came as a chock, but the idea of applying for SSDI was never an option for me. It took trying to create a business from home, where I hoped I’d be able to pull together 3 days and due to my education and knowledge of Computer Science, when it became obvious, that I could not get off a couch except to see a Doctor, finally my wife called an attorney and warned me that if I did not apply, I could lose the ability to. I did, April 15, 2015 and chose to apply on my own, since I had years of medical records and had been visiting physicians who were conducting 6-8 injections, FR Ablations, and a host of other procedures. When SSDI was first denied, I’m not sure how, but the attorney somehow was able to get me a trial with what was called an ALJ. After everything was presented, the ALJ made an immediate based on what he explained I fell into, 1.04 and 1.04 and in his opinion he included a term I had never seen called Chronic Intractable Pain Disease. He then did something unexpected. Looking at my medical records and how long I have been getting procedures, combined with trying two total knee replacements, he backdated the SSDI to Dec. 22, which is when the last company I worked for had no choice but to let me go.
To make an already long email short, I learned everything possible about this disease, how unabated daily 24/7 pain leads to cardiac issues (my BP cannot be lowered with normal BP medication) and averages 185/95 daily along with Tachycardia.
I agree to file for SSDI with the intention of getting surgeries, which would allow me to return to work. I began with two total knee replacements, and the second failed, so I have been stuck with crutches. Lastly, I visited two of Boston’s best Neurologists both of whom stated, I am not a candidate for either what would constitute three lower back surgeries, and likely, due to the conditions of my cervical both refused to perform what is called an ACDF.
The pain has become so bad, that at first an endocrinologist believed I had Addison’s disease. Over a period of 9 months and multiple tests Primary, Secondary and Tertiary (as well as any pituitary tumors) were all rules out and with six months of Cortisol replacement therapy (Hydrocortisone 30mgs daily) from the firsi HPA Axis where my AM Cortisol was 1.8, with ACTH of 9, the doctor was certain I he missed something so he conducted what was called an ACTH stimulation test. My Cortisol which had dropped to a even more dangerous level went from the base reading of 0.8 to 16.5 with the stimulation, proving my body can make cortisol. To end this, after much research by the Endo, he concluded the cortisol was depleted due to years of under-treated pain combined with way too much Injection Therapy and not enough Pain Medicine,. Although I admit this was partially my fault, due to a general dislike of opioids, except after a surgical procedure and then only for 1-2 weeks. In short I’ve been an idiot and when I presented this to the Pain Doctor who had been treating me, he scoffed on the report from the Endocrinologist and with no notice, or cause (which he admitted) he abandoned me as a patient. All I have been told is “get a lawyer” to which I reply: “To what end?” A lawyer cannot treat my conditions, and my objection is to get off disability and back to work, which is obviously impossible.
Finally, It was also suggestion that what happened with me go far beyond abandonment, and that it was a civil rights violation to hand a patient one final prescription, not provide a reason for the dismissal, not try to help find another physician and all because I asked for a referral to a larger hospital which is suggested when treating the multiple problems with IP Disease.
Again, the question lingers. So what if this doctor committed a civil rights violation? Yes, he is a bad and unethical doctor, but I am not in a position to take up a cause.
I keep asking, to what end? Let’s say he’s convicted and I am awarded lots of money. What good is money when I am stuck on a couch 24/7 with unabated pain, unless I am forced to see a doctor? Also, there is treatment for me, neither I nor my wife have squandered our money, so I am not interested in winning any kind of law sure, or anything. I need help getting a doctor.
I do not know what to do, I am unable to find a doctor, even this post took almost an hour since I am not able to sit for more that 10-15 minutes without numbness in my feet and hands. If anyone has suggestions on how to get help, or can guide me to an attorney in MA that is NOT interested in Malpractice, but can perhaps act as an advocate for me to find a new physician. Any suggestion would be appreciated, I’ve been dealing with uncontrolled BP for almost two years and found out about how pain can deplete cortisol when it is not treated. I don;t want sit here and end up dead and I am not one, who can every take their life, like many I have read about. This should not be happening to me when there is treatment, but where it seems I have come to learn, politics is more important with health and a person can find a physician to treat them and yes, it’s partly me, due to not having the energy. Any suggestions would be appreciated,. Thank you and my prayers go out to others who are in my situation.
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Fisioterapia
Do you see that?
Fisioterapia
Stephen P.
on the ssa.gov website it says (A Decision Has Been Made On Your Benefit Application
Your claim for Disability benefits has been processed. A notice has been sent to you with a detailed explanation of the decision.
If you disagree with the decision, you may request an appeal within 60 days of the date on the “Notice of Decision” you receive. Does this mean approved or denied? Why doesn’t it just tell me?
R.F.
Hi Stephen, because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog and cannot provide specific information in regards to your claim. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. or visit your local Social Security office for further assistance. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week or later in the day.
anemones m.
I receive SSI Disability monthly income. I have L.A. Medicare health insurance. Am I covered for vasectomy surgical procedure?….
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