PLBH
Available 7 Days A Week

(800) 435-7542

Blog

Not all disabilities are visible — but you may still qualify for Social Security Disability benefits if you have an invisible disability.

Social Security Disability Insurance and Invisible Disabilities

Now more than ever before, Americans are recognizing that just because someone looks healthy does not mean that they actually are.  A disability does not have to be visible to exist.   These conditions are often called “invisible disabilities.”  While they may be challenging to prove, an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer can make a strong case for benefits for a person with an invisible disability.

What Is An Invisible Disability?

An invisible disability can be any physical or mental health condition that is not immediately apparent.  Many of these disabilities are explicitly covered by the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program.   This includes mental health issues such as schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and physical health conditions like heart problems, respiratory problems and bone or joint issues.  Any of these conditions can present serious symptoms that are so debilitating that a person cannot work.  A diagnosis of one of these health issues may result in a finding of eligibility for SSDI benefits.

However, other invisible disabilities are not in the “List of Impairments” covered by SSDI. This may include conditions such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, chronic pain or Lyme Disease.  This does not necessarily mean that people with these conditions cannot qualify for SSDI benefits. Even if your particular condition is not on the List of Impairments, you may still be entitled to benefits

Qualifying for SSDI

The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a list of impairments of conditions that are considered to be so severe that they are “qualifying disabilities.” You can view this list of impairments directly on the SSA’s website. However, even if your condition is not on this list, you may still qualify for SSDI benefits if you meet the following standards:

  • Your condition has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months, or is expected to result in death;
  • Your condition is so severe that it prevents you from doing the work that you did before you acquired it; and
  • Your condition prevents you from participating in any gainful employment.

In addition, you meet the work requirements set forth by SSA to qualify for benefits.

In order to prove that you have an invisible disability and that this disability prevents you from working, you will have to submit evidence of your condition and its impact on your life and your ability to work.  Typically, documentation from your doctor(s) showing your diagnosis, symptoms, treatment and prognosis will be helpful in establishing that you are unable to work due to your mental or physical disability.

SSDI cases are often complicated, and require applicants to file a substantial amount of paperwork properly and on time.  Complying with these requirements and submitting enough proof of disability is even more important in cases involving invisible disabilities, where it won’t be immediately apparent that you have a debilitating condition.  A Social Security Disability lawyer can guide you through the SSDI process, including filing the initial paperwork and any requests for reconsideration or appeals of a denied claim.

If you have an invisible disability, it pays to have an experienced SSDI attorney on your side to ensure that your claim is filed correctly.  A skilled Social Security Disability lawyer can mean the difference between a claim being granted and denied.  The attorneys of PLBH have in-depth knowledge of the SSDI process, and understand the challenges many of our clients face in proving that their invisible disability is real.  We are here to help, and we never charge a fee unless we are successful.  Contact our office today at (800) 435-7542 or info@plblaw.com to schedule a free initial consultation about your SSDI case.