Baltimore Social Security Disability Lawyers: Rare Disorders
March 23, 2017
If you have been diagnosed with a rare disease or disorder, chances are you have had to cope with a lot of uncertainty, frustration, and fear over how the condition is going to affect your life, both in the short- and long-term. If the disorder compromises your ability to work, and you are unable to generate income and provide for your family, the financial strain can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Social Security disability insurance may be an option for those affected by a rare disorder.
Social Security disability insurance provides financial relief for individuals who are unable to work due to a disabling disease. There are thousands of rare disorders that affect people every day, and some more debilitating than others. In order to qualify for benefits, applicants must have a severe mental or physical disorder that is expected to last at least one year or result in death.
How to Apply for Benefits
The first step is to complete an application with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine eligibility. An administrator will refer to the SSA List of Impairments, which contains a list of all SSA-approved disorders and the specific requirements needed for the applicant to qualify. For example, fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a rare bone disease that causes growths to appear on the patient’s bones. To qualify for benefits, a patient suffering from FD must show evidence of a serious deformity of a joint, as well as medical records that confirm that the patient suffers from severe pain as a result of the disease.
Some conditions, like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), only require a diagnosis to qualify for benefits because the condition is known to be severely degenerative. A physician’s written diagnosis will automatically qualify the individual for benefits. Many severe disorders like ALS also qualify for the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances program, which speeds up the approval process so that applicants can receive their benefits as soon as possible.
Individuals applying for Social Security disability insurance must also be aware of certain technical requirements. For example, qualifying applicants must have contributed enough money to Social Security during their employment. The more credits accumulated, the more money he or she may receive in benefits. Work credits can be earned over consecutive years, or in separate years. Applicants over the age of 31 must have earned a minimum of 20 credits in the last 10 years.
Baltimore Social Security Disability Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Help Applicants with Rare Disorders Obtain Benefits
If you or someone you love suffers from a rare disorder or disease that prevents you from being able to work, you are urged to contact the Baltimore Social Security disability lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. Our dedicated team is committed to helping you obtain the benefits you deserve. To schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our experienced Social Security disability lawyers, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent clients throughout Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Parkville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.
