Many applicants for Social Security disability benefits cannot work due to a combination of multiple illnesses. Applying for disability benefits when you have various conditions can be challenging. You may be wondering if you should list all of your conditions or just pick the one that affects you the most. Perhaps you haven’t been diagnosed with every condition that affects you yet, and you’re concerned your application will be denied.
Consult with a Los Angeles Disability Benefits Lawyer Today
If you cannot work due to multiple illnesses or disabilities, we recommend working with an experienced disability lawyer who can help you submit a thorough application. At Disability Advocates Group, we know all of the common errors people make when applying for disability benefits. We will help you complete your application and accurately describe how your medical conditions affect your employment. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.
Should You List All Of Your Multiple Illnesses On Your Disability Benefits Application?
When you apply for Social Security benefits, you should list all of the physical and mental impairments that prevent you from working. It’s crucial that you list every single impairment on your application, even if you think your impairment is relatively minor. The analyst who reviews your application will evaluate your disability level as a whole and consider how all of your conditions affect your ability to work. The analyst will analyze the combined effect of your major and minor impairments.
Why You Need an Experienced Lawyer on Your Side
You will need to prove that you suffer from a severe enough impairment that you can no longer perform substantial work. Some illnesses qualify an applicant automatically for approval because they are listed impairments, but most impairments do not. If your illnesses do not meet or equal the requirements of an impairment listing in the Social Security administration’s “Blue Book,” you can combine multiple disabilities to meet the Blue Book listing requirement.
Gathering all the documentation to show the severity of your combined illnesses is a time-consuming process. Many individuals with multiple disabilities or medical conditions cannot gather information because they are coping with their medical condition. While you can submit your application on your own, the likelihood of success will increase when you work with an experienced lawyer.
At Disability Advocates Group, we have helped thousands of clients successfully apply for Social Security benefits. We understand how to complete an application for clients with multiple disabilities. When you work with our team, you can rest assured that we will advocate for you throughout the entire process and handle all of your application details. Should the Social Security Administration deny your initial application, we will represent you in your appeal. Our law firm doesn’t require payment until we’ve successfully obtained Social Security Benefits on behalf of our clients.
Qualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits With Multiple Illnesses
You will need to prove that you were unable to work because of your disabilities. The analyst who is reviewing your case will determine whether you can perform substantial, gainful activity. If you can earn over a specific amount per month, you will not qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The income limit for SSI benefits is currently $794 per month per person and $1,191 per month for a married couple.
If your income level is higher than the minimum amount, you won’t qualify for SSI benefits. However, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments. In this case, you will need to prove that you have enough work credits from paying into the social security system to qualify.
Meeting the Duration Requirement with Multiple Impairments
Ultimately, you will need to use evidence from your medical record to show that your condition, or a combination of conditions, is expected to last 12 consecutive months. If you have two conditions considered severe when combined, the Social Security Administration will consider them together when deciding whether your symptoms will last at least 12 months. Conversely, if the doctor who evaluated you expects one of your impairments to improve within 12 months, and your other impairment will not last 12 months, your claim will be denied.
Combining Your Medical Conditions to Show Impairment
The combination of your impairments must prevent you from performing daily work-related tasks. The analyst will review medical evidence from your doctor to decide whether your impairment is severe enough. If each individual impairment isn’t severe enough to qualify you for disability benefits, you can combine your conditions.
When the combination of your medical conditions causes significant impairment, you can still qualify for benefits. Suppose you have sleep apnea and anxiety disorder. One of these conditions may not cause you to be unable to work. However, the combination of these conditions results in chronic insomnia that makes it impossible for you to complete a day of work.
As mentioned above, claims examiners use a Blue Book to determine which conditions are severe enough for benefits. Your conditions may not be listed in the Blue Book specifically. However, you can still obtain benefits if you can prove that, when combined, your medical conditions equal another listing in severity. Ultimately, the decision will depend on whether the analyst decides you cannot work because of the combination of your medical conditions.
Contact a Los Angeles Social Security Disability Lawyer Today
At Disability Advocates Group, our social security disability attorneys will help you accurately portray how all of your medical conditions affect you. We understand that the application process is complicated and can be confusing. We will guide you through the process step by step, helping you obtain all of the documentation and evidence you need to prove the severity of your disability. Our team will help you present the most robust case possible for benefits. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.
