A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is a life-changing event. If you can’t work, how will you pay your bills? How will you afford the medical care you need to live your life?
If you have worked a job where you paid Social Security taxes, you may be entitled to Social Security disability. The skilled Oklahoma Social Security disability lawyers of Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons can help you access these benefits. Contact us for an initial consultation, and we’ll answer all your questions, advise you about how the SSDI application process works, and handle all the details for you. Reach out today to learn more Social Security disability benefits for Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a listing of disabling conditions called the Blue Book. One of the listings is for Parkinsonian syndrome, and in many cases, it is possible to get SSDI based on your Parkinson’s disease.
Before the SSA gets to the portion of their review of your application that focuses on the disease, they must first determine whether you have worked and earned sufficient Social Security work credits. In most cases, you need 40 credits, and you must have earned 20 of those in the past ten years.
Next, they must determine whether you have a qualifying disability. They use a five-step process to make that determination.
- Are you working? If you are working and your average earnings are more than $1,690 ($2,830 if you’re blind) per month, you cannot be considered disabled. If you aren’t working or are working but not reaching that monthly amount, they’ll proceed to the next question.
- Is your condition severe? Your condition must prevent you from, or limit your ability to perform, basic work-related tasks, such as sitting, standing, walking, or remembering, for at least 12 months. If your physical functioning meets this test, they’ll go to the next question.
- Is your condition in the disabling conditions list? If your condition appears on the Blue Book list, it is considered severe enough to be disabling. If your condition isn’t on the list, the SSA must decide if it is as severe as a listed condition.
- Can you do any work you previously performed? If your condition prevents you from doing any of your previous work, the SSA will proceed to the next question.
- Can you do any other type of work? To answer this question, the SSA will look at your medical condition, age, education, past work experience, and transferable skills. If you can do no other work, you’ll be eligible for disability benefits.
Does Parkinson’s Qualify for Disability Benefits?
To answer the question, “Is Parkinson’s a disability?” you can refer to the listing at 11.06 for “Parkinsonian syndrome” under neurological disorders. Under this listing, this condition is considered disabling if, despite undergoing prescribed treatment, someone still suffers either:
- Disorganization or marked limitation of motor function that impairs a person’s ability to stand up, balance while standing or walking, or use their arms, or
- Extreme limitation in physical function and understanding or applying information, interacting with others, concentrating, or managing yourself.
So, does Parkinson’s qualify for disability? If you meet the criteria, yes.
What Types of Disability Benefits Are Available for Parkinson’s Disease?
You may be eligible for two types of disability from SSA: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Social Security disability payments are based on your work history and are calculated based on your prior earnings. The more money you make over your working lifetime, the higher your benefits will be.
Supplemental Security Income benefits are available to people with limited income resources who are blind, 65 or older, or who have a qualifying disability. In most states, SSI recipients can also get Medicaid, and many states also provide a supplemental payment and food assistance. The most recent maximum monthly SSI payment for an individual was $994.00.
How Can Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons Help Your Disability Case?
Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons is an Oklahoma law firm with considerable experience handling SSDI claims. This experience gives us in-depth knowledge of how to work with doctors, how to buttress a claim with thorough medical records, and how to appeal denials effectively. We can handle the heavy legal lifting while you focus on living your life.
What If You Don’t Meet the Listing?
Even if your condition doesn’t meet the listing precisely, the SSA will consider many relevant factors that, taken together, could still prove that your condition is disabling. We will work with your medical providers to gather as much medical evidence as possible that could support a finding that you are entitled to Parkinson’s disability benefits. Using the knowledge we’ve gained from our years of helping others, we’ll provide as much information as possible that will allow the SSA to conclude that you deserve SSDI benefits.
FAQs About Parkinson’s and Disability Benefits
The following is more information about Parkinson’s and SSDI that our clients often ask for when they first meet with us.
Does a Parkinson’s diagnosis automatically qualify me?
No. The SSA will still need to go through its checklists to determine whether your condition prevents you from working.
Is it hard to get disability for Parkinson’s?
It depends. If your condition is severe, you should have no difficulty. But just having a diagnosis will not make you eligible if you can still function well and work.
How much does Social Security pay for Parkinson’s disease?
Your SSDI payment will be based on your historical earnings from the jobs you worked where you paid Social Security taxes. If you qualify for SSI, your benefit could be up to $994 per month.
What if my claim is denied?
If your claim is denied, you can appeal the SSA’s decision. There are four levels of appeal: reconsideration, a hearing with a judge, a review of the hearing decision, and finally, you can file an appeal with a federal district court.
Contact Our Oklahoma SSD Lawyers For A Free Consultation
If you need SSDI benefits, let the experienced Oklahoma SSD/SSI lawyers at Ryan Bisher Ryan & Simons help you navigate the process. We can gather medical evidence, fill out your application, and handle any appeals on your behalf, so you can focus on what really matters: living your life to its fullest.
Call our office today for a free consultation with an attorney who can review your situation and advise you of your options.
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