Is someone with memory loss eligible for disability benefits?

Have you ever considered just how important a role your memory plays in your daily life? From recalling how to do complex actions to simple everyday tasks, our memories allow us to do things over and over again with relative ease.

Now imagine for a moment that you have lost your ability to recall information from your memory because of a brain injury or a serious mental condition. You might forget how to do complex things like driving a vehicle or even simple things lie tying your shoes. As you can imagine, this could create major problems for an individual, which is why we're asking this question:

Is someone with memory loss eligible for disability benefits?

The answer depends, of course, on the severity of a person's condition and the extent to which it is affecting their life. As many of our more frequent readers know, this is a common caveat for being granted disability benefits.

An applicant can show the impact their memory loss is having on their life through their medical history, which would also show that the condition has lasted at least a year. The Social Security Administration would then look at the information provided and determine whether or not the applicant's condition is impairing their daily life in a severe enough way.

Proving that memory loss is having a huge impact on a person's life can be challenging if you can't remember it's creating challenges. Not having an advocate to vouch for a person's struggle can be just as problematic.

With the help of an attorney, the process of applying for benefits can become less frustrating because they will work with an individual's doctor to make sure the right information is being presented. A lawyer can also act as an advocate if the Administration questions the validity of an applicant's claim as well.

Source: The Social Security Administration, "12.00 Mental Disorders - Adult," Accessed June 30, 2015