Can Painful Cysts and Benign Tumors Qualify You For SSD?

If you have a condition such as polycystic kidney disease, which causes painful cysts or benign brain tumors that have symptoms which make it difficult for you to work, whether you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) will depend on the evidence contained in your medical records. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to questions about whether a disease or ailment will qualify a person for SSD. In addition to meeting the Social Security Administration's (SSA) definition of disabled, you must first qualify by having enough work credits. The SSA counts work credits based on your annual wages or your income from self-employment.

Qualifying for SSDI because of a disability can be a little complicated. The first thing to remember is that you must be totally disabled to qualify for SSD. The Social Security Administration does not pay benefits for partial or temporary disability. The SSA's strict definition of disability says that you must not be able to do the work that you did before. In addition, they must decide that you would be unable to adjust to doing other work, and your disability has lasted or is expected to last one year or more or end in death.

SSD benefits are meant to provide income for those whose mental or physical condition is severe enough that they are unable to earn the minimal income that the SSA calls substantial gainful activity (SGA). Basically, if you are too sick to be able to work a full-time job you may be disabled enough to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration has a Listing of Impairments, which is commonly referred to by the SSA as the "blue book." The blue book is a long list of both mental and physical impairments that serve as a guideline for determining if an applicant meets the criteria for being disabled. For example, Chronic Kidney disease is listed in the SSA blue book under 6.00 Genitourinary Disorders. Under that listing is the medical evidence that the SSA wants to see to prove medical impairment.

Although benign brain tumors are not cancerous, they can still cause problems that would keep a person from being able to work full time and earn an income for their family. Listed under 11.00 Neurological in the blue book, the evidence that the SSA wants to see to confirm the diagnosis and the person's disability are listed under that section.

If you are facing any kind of challenges with your Social Security Disability application or a denial, you may want to consider scheduling a consultation with an experienced Maryland SSD attorney. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., our skilled legal team has represented SSD claimants for more than 35 years. If you need help with your application, or wish to appeal a decision made by the SSA, please call 410-730-7737, or fill out our contact form right away to learn more.