Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, affects the ability of a person to interact with others, learn, behave, and communicate. It is a developmental disorder with symptoms typically diagnosed within two years of a child’s birth.
Reference to it as a spectrum disorder reflects the fact that its effects vary with some people having only minor impairment from it while others can experience severe and disabling impairment that requires extensive and full-time care. Autism is recognized by the Social Security Administration (SSA) as an impairment which, if severe enough, may qualify a person for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
Obtaining autism disability benefits can be a long and arduous process. The SSA denies benefits to more than two-thirds of applicants who either give up or must resort to a complicated disability appeal process to overturn the determination. Instead of attempting it on your own, let a Minnesota autism disability benefits lawyer from Disability Partners, PLLC, help you through the process.
Autism is a neurological and developmental disorder that may cause a range of symptoms in people, including:
Asperger’s syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder, and childhood disintegrative disorder are conditions now classified as forms of autism spectrum disorder.
The SSA recognizes that certain physical and mental impairments are severe enough to satisfy the requirements of the definition it uses to determine if a person has a qualifying disability. Those impairments are contained in a Listing of Impairments, and autism is included in both the adult and child listings.
Autism disability benefits are available if a person has medical records that document deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication skills and social interaction combined with significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, activities, or interests. Other criteria also must be met to qualify for SSI or SSDI benefits for autism as a listing impairment.
If a person does not meet the listing criteria, that does not necessarily mean their claim for autism disability benefits will be denied. A person may qualify with an impairment that is equal to a listing impairment even though they do not match with each other.
There are other options to qualify for autism disability benefits apart from the Listing of Impairments that an experienced autism disability benefits lawyer will review with you depending on the available medical records and other circumstances of your claim. It is important to remember that a denial of benefits can be appealed through four levels of the disability appeal process to achieve a successful result.
An application for benefits for autism disability is too important to not seek the assistance of an experienced and skilled autism disability benefits lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC. Contact us today for a free consultation.