Social Security Disability And Diabetes
If you are no longer able to work at your job because of diabetes and its related conditions, you may qualify for monthly Social Security Disability benefits. You should understand that the disease of diabetes itself is no longer on the list of Social Security Administration (SSA) covered conditions. However, diabetes is the root cause of many other debilitating conditions, many of which are on the SSA list. To learn more about how to get Social Security benefits for your diabetes-related medical conditions, read on.
Meet the Requirements
Regardless of your disease, you must meet the SSA minimum requirements for your condition to even be evaluated for consideration. The SSA requires that your condition has caused you to be unable to work for at least a year, and that you have worked enough in the past to have accumulated at least 40 work credits.
A key factor the SSA will consider is whether or not your condition has impacted your ability to do your job.
Diabetes Related Conditions
If you can keep your diabetes in check with proper diet, exercise and medication, you can delay or even eliminate some of these related conditions. However, diabetes that progresses can cause a variety of debilitating illnesses that make it a challenge to work at your job. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause the sugar level to rise in your blood, which will eventually cause neurological problems, kidney disease, nerve damage and more.
The following diabetes-related illnesses appear on the SSA list of covered conditions:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Kidney disease
- Amputation (nerve damage may prompt the removal of one or more extremities).
- Neuropathy (burning, tingling and numbness of an extremity).
- Diabetic retinopathy (damage to the vision in at least one eye).
Medical Evidence
To qualify for benefits, you must show proof by submitting your medical records. Make sure that there is a clear connection between each diabetes-related condition (be sure to list each condition separately) and your ability to do your job. For example, if you are unable to continue to work at a keyboard because of nerve damage to your hands, make sure that your doctor specifically addresses that point in your records.
Whenever possible, see a medical specialist for your condition, rather than a family doctor. A neurologist's opinion on your nerve damage, for example, may carry more authority with the SSA when it comes to proving your illness. The SSA helpfully provides people with forms that may be printed and provided to your doctor.
Contact a Social Security Disability attorney at Duncan Disability Law SC to assist you in meeting the stringent requirements for getting approved for the benefits you deserve.