Strokes are an unfortunately common happening and are devastating for the sufferers. Your work will certainly be negatively affected by a stroke. The question may be whether or not the lasting effects of the stroke affect you enough to hinder your job for more than a year in the future. To find out more about strokes and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) read on.
Stroke Effects Vary
Strokes are not one-size-fits-all impairments. The victims may still be able to work at their jobs as time goes on and the symptoms lessen. Unfortunately, some victims have serious and long-lasting damage to their brains and their bodies. There are far too many variables to predict the outcome of a stroke when it comes to getting back to work. The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires that an affliction negatively affect a victim for at least a year in the past, a year in the future, or a combination of those two. This often means stroke victims can get benefits from the SSA. Stroke victims don't have to prove that they have a permanent impairment as long as they qualify based on the year-long requirement.
Section 11.4 of the Blue Book
All covered afflictions are listed in the SSA blue book. Section 11 covers all neurological conditions and narrowing it down to section 4 you will arrive at vascular insult to the brain. The listing covers common stroke problems like communication, motor issues, and general cognitive issues. You do not have to be affected in all those ways to be approved for benefits, just one of them.
Showing Proof of Your Impairment
The SSA needs to see proof of your impairment, so working closely with your neurologist is recommended. You might need the results of neurological tests, medical records, letters from the doctor, and more to prove your case. In many cases, stroke victims are unable to cope with the demands of a Social Security application. That is where Social Security attorneys come in. They can assist you in filling out the application, complying with Social Security requests for more information, working with your medical practitioners to provide needed information, and more. In the event your application for benefits is denied, Social Security attorneys will represent you at your appeal hearing, where many applicants find an approval.
To find out more about all the ways you can be helped by a Social Security attorney and how affordable it may be, speak to one today.
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