About 1.5 million people sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) each year. While some of them have only mild symptoms that may go away after a few days, others experience severe and disabling consequences that prevent them from working and living normal lives.
Living with the physical and mental impairments caused by a TBI is difficult enough without the stress of the financial challenges brought about by being unable to work and earn money you need for living expenses. A TBI disability benefits lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC, can help by determining whether you meet the eligibility requirements to receive TBI disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs.
Getting the benefits that you deserve through SSDI and SSI is a difficult and time-consuming process. Fewer than one-third of the applications submitted to the Social Security Administration (SSA) for disability benefits get approved. The following information about TBI disability and the assistance of a disability lawyer from Disability Partners can improve your chance of a successful outcome.
TBI is a disruption that affects the functioning of the brain. It can be caused by a blow to the head or by an object piercing the skull and causing injury to the brain. Symptoms range from mild to severe depending on the extent of the damage that is done to the brain.
Mild TBI may include the following symptoms:
Moderate and severe TBIs produce the same symptoms as a mild TBI, but they also may include the following:
Obtaining immediate medical treatment following an injury to the head is essential for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
To qualify for SSI or SSDI benefits for a TBI disability, you must have medical evidence establishing that you are unable to engage in substantial gainful activity as a result of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death. Medical evidence to prove a TBI would include MRIs and other diagnostic imaging, clinical examinations and evaluations, and other testing to establish the diagnosis of a TBI that meets the SSA definition for “disability.”
One method to qualify for disability benefits is by meeting the eligibility criteria of the SSA Listing of Impairments. TBI is a listed impairment, which means that it is severe enough to meet the SSA disability definition provided you meet all of the listing criteria.
If you do not meet the criteria for listing 11.18, which is TBI, you should not give up. You may be able to qualify through a medical-vocational allowance. The SSA will determine from your medical records and other evidence whether you can do work that you did in the past, it will also determine whether you can do other types of work given your age, work history, education, and the limitations of your medical condition.
Learn more about qualifying for SSI or SSDI from a TBI disability benefits lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC. Contact us today for a free consultation and evaluation of your TBI disability.