What will happen if you suddenly got into an accident that leaves you with permanent injuries and rendering you unable to work? This is a common fear, especially among those who have young children to support. If you suddenly find yourself in this devastating situation, you are probably wondering if there is any way you can claim Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits that can sustain you and your family.
People who suffer from orthopedic injuries or those injuries that affect their musculoskeletal system do not always qualify for SSDI. It all depends on the extent of the injuries and whether these injuries prevent them from performing the tasks that their jobs require. So, if you’re wondering if you have the ability to claim SSDI, the first thing is to prove that the impact of your injuries is either long-term or permanent.
Assess Your Injuries
Orthopedic injuries come in different forms, from those that occur along the hips and legs, the spinal cord and the back area to those that cause pain on the tendons, muscles, bones and cartilage. Damages to the orthopedic system can be debilitating and life-changing, because they can restrict overall mobility. Some of these injuries may be asymptomatic, and damages to bones and muscles may not be evident immediately. Thus, if you’re ever in an accident, you need to see a doctor promptly, even if you don’t feel any immediate pain.
Social Security Disability Insurance is designed to help citizens who are unable to support themselves financially due to a permanent or debilitating health problem. Orthopedic damage may not be permanent, but it can cause pain and impair a person’s ability to work. Some of the common injuries are torn tendons, stretched muscles or ligaments, and sprains. There are also more serious injuries such as spinal cord, which often results from aging. Spinal stenosis is incredibly painful because it happens due to the narrowing of the spinal canal.
Another painful orthopedic problem is chronic back pain resulting from a slipped disk or a degenerative disk disease. Even joints on the shoulders, arms and legs can become injured and render a person unable to work productively. Any injury that causes impairment and a decline in mobility or function can be a good reason to file for Social Security disability benefits.
Before you can claim your disability benefits, you need to present a comprehensive medical history that illustrates the extent of your physical damages. You should also present a work history that can show the decline or loss of income due to the orthopedic injury. However, filing takes time and patience and if you are already injured, you may not be the best person to file your claim.
Get The Help You Deserve!
Once you suffer from any orthopedic injury that is truly debilitating and limits your ability to work, you can qualify for SSDI. Filing for Social Security Disability can be quite confusing and takes a lot of time. But working with a spinal cord injury law expert can help expedite the process and save you from all the worries, efforts and pain involved when looking to qualify for SSDI after suffering an orthopedic injury.