According to American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AAN), about 228,000 people are hospitalized for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in the U.S. each year. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that there were 2.87 million TBIs in the U.S. in 2014 alone, and about 13.5 million Americans are disabled because of a TBI. If you have suffered a TBI and you think that you will be unable to work for at least 12 months, and you have a strong claim for disability benefits, your claim may be approved.
5 Signs Your Disability Claim May Be Approved
These five signs that you will be approved for disability with a TBI:
Sign 1: You Meet The Non-Medical Requirements for Disability Benefits
To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you must have worked enough to earn sufficient credits and paid in enough taxes. For most people it is the equivalent of five years full-time out of the last 10 years. If you are covered by SSDI, that helps your odds.
Sign 2: You Have Sufficient Medical Evidence
Many disability claims are denied during the initial review simply because there is a lack of supporting medical documentation. You will need medical records that confirm your diagnosis, test results, lab reports, surgical notes if applicable, and detailed records of treatment plans and long-term prognosis. Your medical records should back up your claim.
Sign 3: You cannot work for at least 12 months.
To qualify for disability benefits from the SSA, you must not be able to work for at least a year because of the severity of the disabling condition. If you can provide documentation that verifies this, you may have a chance in being approved for disability benefits.
Sign 4: You Meet a Blue Book Listing
If you can provide supporting documentation that shows you meet the criteria of a Blue Book listing, you may qualify. If your condition and records do not meet the criteria of a listing, you may still qualify using a medical vocational allowance along with a residual functional capacity (RFC) form completed by your physician. The RFC should be detailed, explaining what you can and cannot do.
Sign 5: You Are Working With A Disability Lawyer
Disability attorneys know what evidence is needed for a successful disability claim. They can review your file and make sure everything that is needed for a disability examiner to fairly evaluate your claim is readily available. They can also determine if additional medical evidence is needed, or if you need to undergo additional medical testing. The lawyer will stay in contact with the SSA and will make sure your file is complete and ready for review.
For more signs that you will be approved for disability, click here.
