It is one of the most debilitating types of pain, yet it frequently does not qualify applicants for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Back pain makes it difficult, if not impossible to complete basic movements, such as sitting down in a chair and walking at a slow pace. With the important role the spine plays in movement and flexibility, a few back pain conditions triggered by spinal disorders might qualify you for SSDI benefits.
How Do I Financial Help for Back Pain?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) runs the SSDI program to help qualified Americans receive financial assistance for suffering from medical conditions that prevent them from working. The federal government agency refers to a medical guide called the Blue Book to determine eligibility for financial assistance. Back pain does not receive a listing in the Blue Book, but certain spinal conditions are listed that a Social Security attorney can link to your back pain.
- Spinal stenosis
- Spinal arachnoiditis
- Spinal nerve root compression
You must meet the criteria the SSA has established for the symptoms associated with the three spinal disorders. A diagnosis from your physician might help you qualify for SSDI benefits, as well as documents that demonstrate you have undergone treatments and completed physical therapy sessions for the back pain caused by one of the spinal conditions.
Your state’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) issues a ruling on your application for SSDI benefits. If your claim comes back denied by the SSA, you should consider completing a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment, which determines the types of work you can do with the back pain triggered by a qualifying spinal disorder.
Does Medicare Influence My SSDI Benefits?
With an increasing number of Americans putting off retirement at 65 years of age, knowing how to receive SSDI benefits with Medicare as an option is an important process to navigate. Federal law requires every beneficiary of SSDI to wait two years after reaching 65 years of age to receive Medicare benefits.
The reason for the two-year delay is SSDI offers more healthcare coverage than the healthcare coverage offered by Medicare. If you decide to receive Medicare insurance when you turn 67 years old, all you have to do is submit a couple of forms to the SSA that transitions you from SSDI benefits to Medicare benefits.
How Do I Work with Back Pain?
If you work a physically demanding job, suffering from recurring back pain means you should find another career that requires less physical labor. The SSA manages two back-to-work programs called ticket to Work and Plan to Achieve Self-support (PASS).
Both back-to-work programs teach disabled workers how to develop strategies that help them learn new job skills. The primary goal of the SSA is to help disabled American workers become self-sufficient, which allows the agency to gain more resources to help other workers that need financial assistance.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
Since the SSA denies most initial claims for SSDI benefits, you should consider working with a Social Security disability lawyer. An attorney may help you submit the most persuasive SSDI claim, as well as monitors the progress of your claim as it moves through the SSA’s system. If the SSA denies your SSDI claim, a Social Security disability attorney may help you file an appeal.
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