Category: Social Security Disability

If you have a representative payee to handle your Social Security disability payments, it is likely due to your inability to manage your own money when you first began receiving benefits. There may come a time when you feel as though you no longer need someone else to fulfill this role. When this is the case, you can request to have yourself appointed as payee instead. While this may seem like a positive change, it is important to exercise caution before proceeding.

Before Requesting Yourself as Payee

Before making the request to have yourself appointed as payee for your disability benefits, it is important to understand how the process works and how it may affect your eligibility to receive benefits. You can apply to have yourself appointed as the payee if you are able to show that your condition has improved enough to allow you to manage your own money. Exercise caution when going this route, however. If your qualifying condition for purposes of obtaining Social Security disability benefits is a mental condition, you could jeopardize your benefits by claiming to now have the ability to handle your own money. Making this request will alert the Social Security Administration that there has been an improvement in your condition and they may choose to reopen your case. If they determine that you have improved sufficiently, your benefits may be denied going forward. While wanting to manage your own affairs is completely understandable, you don’t want it to jeopardize your much-needed benefits.

Before requesting a change to your representative payee, we encourage you to reach out for legal guidance. Contact use today at (214) 373-3761 for more information.

If your bipolar disorder is controlled by medication, you may not currently qualify for Social Security disability benefits. While bipolar disorder may qualify some people for Social Security benefits, you will likely not meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) eligibility criteria if your symptoms are controlled by medication.

Why?

In order to receive Social Security disability benefits you must be unable to work because of your bipolar disorder. If your medication controls your symptoms enough so that you can work, you do not need Social Security disability and you should expect that the SSA will deny your application for benefits.

Be Aware That Circumstances Change

Bipolar disorder, as you well know, is a tricky condition. Your current treatment which is working well now may:

• Stop working in the future.
• Result in serious side effects that make the costs of continuing with treatment outweigh the benefits.

If these things happen and your condition starts to severely impact your ability to work and live your life then it may be time to reconsider your Social Security disability eligibility—especially if other treatments are unavailable or ineffective. Before you apply, however, you should talk to your doctor and make sure your condition and its effect on your life are well documented.

To get more information, at any time, you can download our FREE Social Security Disability Fact Sheet; you can read the SSA’s specific requirements for bipolar disorder eligibility, or you can start live chat with us to have your questions answered.

You know you have a mental illness. You even went to the doctor seeking treatment and the doctor made some suggestions to you. However, you haven’t followed through on those suggestions consistently. You may be inconsistent about taking your medications or you may fail to show up for follow-up appointments, for example. You don’t mean to do these things; they just happen, and if your lack of action is a symptom of your condition, it shouldn’t be held against you.

Exceptions to Treatment Requirements

Generally, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may deny an application for Social Security disability benefits if the applicant failed to follow through on doctors’ recommended treatments. There are exceptions to that general rule, however. The SSA cannot hold your lack of treatment against you if your mental health condition—the one for which you are seeking disability benefits—prevents you from consistently getting treatment.

Additionally, the SSA should not hold a lack of treatment against you if:

• You couldn’t afford the treatment.
• The treatment was against your religion.
• You are able to make lifestyle modifications to manage your symptoms without treatment.
• The side effects of the medication are worse than the treatment.

Yet, the SSA may try and use your lack of treatment as a reason why you should be denied benefits. Accordingly, it is important to know your rights and to get the help you need to fully complete an accurate Social Security disability application. To learn more about how to do that, please start a live chat with us today.

Maybe. Not everyone with sickle cell disease will qualify for Social Security disability benefits. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has a specific criterion in the Listing of Impairments for sickle cell disease.

If you suffer from sickle cell disease or one of its variants then, according to Section 7.05 of the SSA’s Listing of Impairments, you may qualify for Social Security disability if one of the following is true:

• You had documented painful thrombotic crises at least three times in the five months before applying.​
• You required extended hospitalization (not just emergency care) at least three times in the 12 months before applying.
• You have chronic severe anemia with a persistent hematocrit of 26 percent or less.
• Your impairment qualifies you under a different criterion related to the affected body system.

Of course, you may also qualify in other ways. For example, if you can prove that your medical condition prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activities or if you can prove that your sickle disease is medically equal to that of another listing then you may also qualify for Social Security disability.

The path to Social Security disability benefits is not always a straight one. It can be confusing, it can be difficult, and it can be frustrating. However, you don’t have to do it alone. You have the right to get help. If you have questions about the Social Security disability eligibility process or about what you should do to protect your rights, please start a live chat with us today.

Yes, you may be able to apply again. As you know all too well, the symptoms and the severity of multiple sclerosis can change over time. When you first applied for Social Security disability, you may have had a multiple sclerosis diagnosis, but you may not have qualified for Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) may have found that you could still work.

But Now You Can’t and It Might be Time to Reapply for Benefits

If you recently applied for benefits then you may be able to appeal the SSA’s denial of your application. However, it sounds like several months, or more, have passed since your initial Social Security disability application and that your medical condition has changed significantly. Accordingly, you may need to reapply for benefits with the new medical information.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Approved

You know that you can’t work, but the SSA is not going to simply take your word for it. Instead, you are going to have to provide specific documentation about your condition and about your work history so that the SSA has the necessary facts to approve your application. This can be confusing and time consuming; however, it is important. If you make a mistake or forget a piece of documentation then your otherwise valid application may be denied by the SSA. Thus, it is important to take the time to fill out a complete and accurate application now so that you can get the benefits that you deserve.

You ask an important question, because it is important for you to provide the right medical documentation with your Social Security disability application. Otherwise, the Social Security Administration (SSA) could deny your application and you could be left without benefits that you deserve and need now that your physical condition is keeping you from working.

What Information Do You Need?

That depends on your disability. The Social Security Blue Book Listing of Impairmentsdescribes the specific medical documentation that you need to qualify for various conditions.

For example, if you are applying for disability under Section 4.00 Cardiovascular Impairments then you should be prepared to include the detailed reports of the following information with your application:

• Your medical history
• Physical examinations
• Lab work
• Prescribed treatments and your responses to those treatments

Typically, you will need a medical record of at least three months—though more or less may be necessary based on your specific situation. Additionally, you should provide any specific information listed in the section that applies to your cardiovascular disability. Specific test results and treatments may be required based on the cardiovascular condition that you are claiming as a disabling condition.

Other documentation will be necessary if you have a different kind of disability. If you have any questions about what documentation is necessary to help support your disability application then it is important to find out the answer before you submit an application. Failure to provide all the required medical data could result in your application being denied.

While it’s true that the more evidence you provide to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the better, it is important that you provide the right information in the right way.

More specifically, as you complete your application for Social Security disability benefits, you want to make sure that you provide all relevant information in an organized way and on the right forms.

You do not want to provide irrelevant information that dilutes the relevant information on your application or that could confuse the people who are making determinations about your eligibility or your appeal.

Wondering What’s Relevant?

The specific answer will depend on your medical condition and whether this is your initial application for eligibility or a review. Generally, you will want to make sure that you include detailed and organized information about:

• Your medical condition including the results of medical tests, relevant doctors’ notes and other information
• Your work and educational history
• Other evidence as requested by the SSA

Do not make the mistake of throwing a lot of unorganized or irrelevant data at the SSA. It will not help you. Instead, make sure you are filling out all of the forms completely and accurately and that you are clear in the reasons why you qualify for Social Security disability benefits. While you do not want to include irrelevant information, it is still important to include all relevant information so that a fair determination can be made.

For more information about the application and appeals processes, please read our FREE guide: Social Security Disability What You Need to Know.

You may be eligible for Social Security disability if you have vision problems but you are not legally blind. The Social Security Administration (SSA) should approve your application for benefits if:

• Your vision problems keep you from working and are expected to last for more than one year.
• You have worked long enough to qualify for benefits.

The SSA considers an applicant to be legally blind if his vision cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in the stronger eye or if his visual field is 20 degrees or less in the stronger eye. Benefits are important for people who meet this definition of blindness. However, benefits are also important for those who have significant vision problems that interfere with their ability to earn an income even if they do not meet the technical definition of blindness.

What You Should Know If You Have Low Vision But Are Not Blind

The burden is on you to convince the SSA that you qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Since there is no specific listing for your impairment, you will need to establish that your condition keeps you from working. To that end, it is important to consider why you are having vision problems. For example, if your vision is blurry or you have double vision it could be associated with another medical condition that is listed in the SSA’s List of Impairments.

It is up to you to protect your rights and advocate for the benefits you deserve, but you don’t have to do it alone. Instead, we encourage you to gather more information by reading our related links and starting a live chat with us today to discuss your rights.

You were relieved when you got the news that the Social Security Administration had approved your Social Security disability application. The monthly Social Security disability benefits are important to you and to your family.

Accordingly, you may be concerned when you receive notice from the SSA that your case is going to be reviewed.

Three Reasons You Shouldn’t Panic

Before you let your mind jump to the worst-case scenario or you spend your weekend deciding what assets to sell to maintain your standard of living, it is important to know three things about continuing disability reviews. Specifically, it is important to know that:

• Continuing disability reviews are routine. Most adults have their claims reviewed every three to seven years. However, the SSA can decide to review a case sooner or later.
• Generally, it is easier to be determined disabled during a continuing disability review than during the initial application process. If the SSA determines that you have had no medical improvement then your status will not be changed and you will continue to receive benefits. If the SSA determines that you have had medical improvement then the SSA will consider whether you have improved enough to work.
• You may be able to get benefits if the SSA finds you no longer disabled and you appeal. You may have to fill out specific SSA forms depending on how you decide to pursue an appeal, but you may be able to continue receiving benefits during the appeals process.

You will be notified of a continuing disability review by mail. While it is not something to be feared, it should be something that you take seriously.

Right now you may be watching every penny. Your income has disappeared or has been substantially reduced because of your medical condition or injury. You are careful about what you spend and you are trying to cut costs. You may even consider trying to apply for Social Security disability benefits on your own instead of hiring an attorney to help you with the process.

However, applying for Social Security disability on your own can be risky. You may be denied benefits that you deserve because you make a mistake on your application or fail to provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) with complete information. If your application is denied you will have to decide whether you are going to live without the benefits, appeal the decision, or ask that the decision be reconsidered.

You Don’t Need This Stress

Instead, you can hire a Texas Social Security disability lawyer to help you even if you have limited funds with which to hire an attorney. Before you meet with a potential lawyer you should know that we:

• Provide free, no obligation consultations. We invite you to meet with us, free of charge, to determine whether we may be of assistance to you. We will answer your questions and help you decide what next steps to take.
• We only get paid if you recover benefits. If you do not get Social Security disability benefits then we do not get paid.
• Social Security disability lawyers have their fees regulated by the Social Security Administration. Thus, most lawyers charge about the same amount of money for their services.

We also offer useful information free of charge. You can start accessing this information now by reading our FREE Social Security Disability Fact Sheet and watching our free videos.