The Social Security Administration classifies multiple sclerosis as a disability (SSA). Someone with MS may be eligible for disability benefits if their condition is severe enough to prevent them from working full time. If you want to qualify for and receive disability benefits if you have MS, you must meet the SSA’s Blue Book listing 11.09. It is critical to have solid medical data to back up your claim.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) — Diagnosis
Table of Contents
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that develops when the fatty myelin sheaths that protect the axons in the brain, as well as the spinal cord, are destroyed by immune system responses. Simply put, Multiple Sclerosis causes the immune system to attack the coats of neuron channels, disrupting nerve signals and impairing the spinal cord and brain’s ability to communicate with one another.
Symptoms
Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis can be challenging. Consult a neurologist to assess whether your symptoms are consistent with Multiple Sclerosis; however, establishing a conclusive link can be challenging in many situations. Frequently, symptoms include the following:
- dizzy
- exhaustion
- tremor
- chronic pain
- cognitive difficulties
A precise diagnosis can be made using your medical records and neurological testing, and a variety of specialized procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging, lumbar or spinal tap punctures, evoked potentials, and blood analysis can assist diagnose Multiple Sclerosis properly. Detecting this disease early is critical, as therapy can dramatically decrease the progression of symptoms.
Applying for Disability Benefits with a Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis
When filing for Social Security Disability benefits on the basis of Multiple Sclerosis, the claimant must demonstrate to the state-run Disability Determination Services (DDS) that the condition has significantly reduced the claimant’s capacity to do gainful work activity. Even if a claimant can establish a solid medical case for disability due to MS, it is critical to offer precise information regarding the condition’s symptoms, particularly the limitations placed on the patient’s daily functioning. Confirming a neurologist’s diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis with a long-term record of symptoms and impairments from a primary care physician significantly strengthens a claim for disability payments. Medical data that will bolster a case for MS disability includes the following:
Demonstration of demyelination by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) spinal tap that demonstrates increased myelin basic proteins. Demonstration of slowed, garbled, or halted nerve impulses via Evoked Potential Tests such as VEP, BAEP’S, and SSEP’S.
The following medical characteristics are included in the Social Security Administration’s impairment criteria handbook, or “blue book,” that Disability Determination Services use when determining whether to award Social Security Disability benefits to individuals with Multiple Sclerosis:
Disability Benefits for Multiple Sclerosis Patients with the Following Impairments
- Impairment of vision
- Impairment of mind characterized by behavioral and psychological irregularities shown by the presence of specific mental diseases;
- Persistent motor function disorganization manifested by paralysis or paresis, ataxia, tremor, and sensory problems that may occur in various combinations
- Significant motor function fatigue manifested by significant muscle weakness, particularly when doing repetitive activities.
You May Qualify for $3,148 Per Month! Request a No-Cost Disability Evaluation
Obtaining disability payments for Multiple Sclerosis can be challenging, much more so for younger claimants. If you are currently afflicted with this disease and believe you have a good case for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), it is critical that you understand the application and appeals processes completely before submitting your initial applications. In most circumstances, collaborating closely with medical specialists and a knowledgeable Social Security attorney or disability advocate can significantly improve the efficiency with which a claimant obtains his or her legally entitled benefits.