Disability Benefits Available for Multiple Sclerosis?

If a person is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, the early onset symptoms can remain manageable enough for a period of time that the individual can continue to perform any amount of basic work duties, and in most cases this fact alone means the person will not be able to obtain any social security disability  benefits. In order to be able to claim benefits based on a diagnosis of MS, an individual must be able to prove that he or she is not able to perform any typical work functions on their own.

Medical Vocational Allowance

Obtaining a medical vocational allowance is one way an individual can obtain social security benefit payments.

• In order to obtain a medical vocational allowance, the patient must be able to prove that the condition he is suffering is one of a lasting nature, meaning it will go on for a period of time spanning at least 1 year.
• This condition must also render the patient unable to perform duties for any employer he has been employed with before, at the same time make him unable to perform any other work duties. This option is the most common form of proof for accepted disability claims. 

MS Listing 11.09

The Social Security Administration has compiled a standard list of impairments that are generally automatically accepted when someone files for disability benefits. The MS listing, or Listing 11.09, is the listing within the list of impairments that sets the criteria for an approval of a disability benefit claim on the basis of Multiple Sclerosis. Overall, this particular listing contains a set of 3 scenarios regarding MS that typically grant speedy awarding of benefits when just one of the criteria are met. These three criteria are:

• The impairment of basic motor functions
• The impairment of the patient’s eyesight
• The decline of the patient’s mental capacity

If the individual has met any of these 3 requirements, or has been issued the medical vocational allowance, he or she will generally not have a problem obtaining disability benefits for Multiple Sclerosis. Generally speaking, unless the person is able to perform any sort of work functions without being made special allowances for by the employer, there won’t be an argument from the Social Security Administration in the issue of accepting the patient’s claim.

If the Patient Feels Their Claim is Denied in Error

If an individual meets one or more of the criteria mentioned above and is still denied benefits, he or she has the right to an appeal with the Social Security Administration. Speaking with a case worker on the appeal process will provide any information needed on how to start proceedings.

Getting Help

The assistance of a qualified disability attorney can go a long way towards helping you to qualify for social security disability benefits for multiple sclerosis. Your lawyer can help you to gather the proof you need for your claim to be accepted, thus helping you to get benefits from the SSA that you need.