A stroke may qualify for disability if its effects prevent you from working for at least a year and you meet other eligibility criteria. Your Social Security Disability (SSD) application will require proof of your diagnosis, treatment plan, and future prognosis.
You do not have to apply for the benefits you need on your own. Most SSD law firms will review your disability claim for free. A Rutherfordton Social Security Disability lawyer can clarify each step, including what you can do if the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies your initial application for benefits. An attorney can also help you gather and organize all the medical evidence and personal information the application process requires.
Talk to Your Legal Team About the Effects of a Stroke on Your Life
Suffering a stroke often means multiple visits to a medical professional. Getting a definitive diagnosis is the start of recovery and the disability claim process. A severe stroke can be readily apparent and immediately debilitating. In other cases, stroke symptoms can vary in degree of impairment, but can include:
- Difficulty speaking (slurring words or garbled speech), which may be a sign of motor aphasia
- Numbness and/or weakness on one or both sides
- Blurry or blackened vision in one or both eyes
- Severe headache, dizziness, or loss of consciousness
- Limited mental functioning
- Limited physical functioning, including difficulty maintaining mobility, agility, and coordination
Get, and keep getting, all the medical care you need to foster optimal recovery from a stroke. You should also consider speaking to a local personal injury law firm to understand the medical evidence you need to prove the toll your stroke has had on your ability to work and perform typical daily activities.
Medical Evidence That Documents Your Stroke and Its Physical Toll
The application for disability benefits asks for a wide range of personal information, including identification, family dynamics, Social Security numbers, and more. It also asks for authoritative medical information that defines your current medical condition and anticipated future needs, including:
- Medical records that describe your condition and its physical and mental limitations
- Employment history and job description, proving you cannot do the same work you did before the stroke
- Doctors’ reports, including notes, imaging, laboratory test results, and final diagnosis
If questions about your stroke or its impact persist, SSA officials could also request a Disability Medical Exam. The SSA will choose the physician who conducts the exam, schedule it for you, and cover its costs.
A Disability Rating Can Help You Get the Medical Care You Need After a Stroke
Treatment for stroke victims can be costly, extensive, long-term, and include:
- Emergency care
- Hospital admissions
- Prescription medications
- Surgical procedures
Treatment can also include physical, occupational, and speech therapies to help you re-learn needed skills. Your medical evidence will include details of your current and future treatment protocol.
Ongoing medical care is part of the disability benefits most Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients receive via Medicaid. Most Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients can receive Medicare enrollment after a two-year waiting period, according to the SSA.
An SSD Lawyer Can Identify Whether Your Stroke Fits the Listing of Impairments
A stroke is considered a vascular insult to the brain. A significant stroke can prevent you from caring for yourself, including working to earn a living. It is included as a neurological disorder on the SSA’s Listing of Impairments (also called the Blue Book).
There are two types of strokes, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The cause of an ischemic stroke is a buildup of plaque that creates a blockage in a major blood vessel in the brain. This is the most commonly reported type of stroke.
The cause of a hemorrhagic stroke is a ruptured blood vessel. This type of stroke can result in a buildup of pressure that could affect brain tissue, causing additional damage. Your medical evidence will describe the kind of stroke you suffered.
An SSD Lawyer Can Help You Fight for Benefits After a Stroke
Wading through the SSD application process can be hard without an experienced disability attorney by your side. It costs nothing upfront to hire a North Carolina Social Security Disability lawyer. They work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay the law firm when you get benefits. It also means you owe nothing if you do not.
Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (828) 286-3866
Social Security Disability Consists of Two Distinctive Benefits Programs
The SSA offers assistance through two benefits programs. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides monthly financial benefits for individuals with a qualifying work history. You must have worked long enough and recently enough and paid SSD insurance while you worked. Your lawyer will compile the documents that prove your eligibility.
You may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if you have little to no resources or financial support. The disability application process will demand proof of your financial circumstances. A lawyer can help you compile the necessary documentation. In some cases, you can receive concurrent benefits from both programs simultaneously.
Understanding SSD’s Financial Benefits
Your monthly compensation depends on which program you qualify for. SSDI recipients will receive compensation based on their work history and earnings. A lawyer can help you document the contributions you made while working. They can also ensure an accurate assessment of your monthly benefits.
SSI recipients will receive compensation based on income (if any), property and assets, and any other benefits they receive. A lawyer can help you understand the compensation you are entitled to receive and how to meet the requirements for receiving benefits electronically.
Contact Our Social Security Disability Consultation Team
In some cases, a stroke can lead to lifelong impairment and extreme limitations on the patient’s functional capacity. If you suffered a stroke and cannot return to work, our SSD lawyers can explain whether the effects of your stroke meet Social Security Disability qualifications. We can also guide you through the application process.
Learn more about filing for disability or appealing a denied application. Contact our consultation team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, for your free disability claim review today.