A spinal cord injury can have lasting effects that make it extremely difficult to work. Many who suffer injuries to the neck and back are no longer able to hold down steady employment, leaving them wondering where to turn for financial relief. Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits are available to those who have suffered severe spinal cord injuries, but the process of obtaining eligibility is filled with legal and administrative hurdles.
Do you qualify?
In order to qualify under the SSA’s listing for spinal cord injuries, you must provide medical evidence of damage to the spinal cord, disc displacement, nerve root compression or other serious physical injury. Such damage can result in a broad range of symptoms, including:
- Loss of mobility
- Severe pain
- Incontinence
- Breathing problems
- Numbness
- Paralysis
- Trouble with regulating blood pressure, body temperature and other bodily functions
You may be experiencing one or many of these symptoms, but the SSA will not rely upon your testimony alone. You must provide concrete evidence in the form of MRI results, X-rays, doctor’s notes, surgery records and other medical documentation.
Every injury is unique
If your spinal cord injury has caused you to suffer total paralysis or other severe conditions, the SSA may approve your claim with relative dispatch. The lasting damage of a spinal cord injury is not always so easy to gauge, however. Sometimes symptoms last for days and then abate, only to return again. Some spinal cord injuries make it difficult to stand, while others make it difficult to sit. If the totality of your symptoms prevents you from performing your work duties or adjusting to other work, you deserve benefits. An experienced SSD lawyer can present your claim in the most compelling light, guiding you through all aspects of the claims and, if necessary, appeals process.
