A diagnosis of diabetes alone is not enough to qualify you for SSD benefits. However, many people with diabetes suffer from severe and related conditions that do qualify them for benefits. These conditions include:
- Vision loss
- Severe fatigue
- Numbness and paralysis in limbs
- Kidney failure
- Cardiovascular problems
For many, a combination of such symptoms makes it difficult, if not impossible, to hold down steady employment. Proving the disability to the Social Security Administration (SSA), however, is another matter.
Document your disability
From the SSA’s perspective, your diabetes and related health problems must be well documented in order for them to approve your claim. Make sure to get regular treatment for your disability and to follow your doctor’s orders. Evidence from diagnostic tests and doctor visits will prove crucial as you file your initial claim and go through any necessary hearings and appeals.
In order to be approved, your disability must be severe enough to prevent you from working, it must have lasted 12 months or be expected to last for at least 12 months or be expected to result in death.
How does diabetes affect you?
Diabetes manifests differently in different patients. Some are able to control the symptoms with regular treatment, but for others the symptoms spiral out of control. In severe cases, diabetes results in loss of limb, blindness, heart disease and other catastrophic consequences. It may be challenging to get approved for SSD benefits with diabetes, but you don’t have to face the process alone. An experienced disability attorney can provide you with the guidance and advocacy you need to overcome the legal and administrative hurdles inherent in the process.
