A person living with MS may automatically qualify for a disability benefit. According to the listing in the SSA’s Blue Book a person living with MS could qualify for SSDI if they experience at least one of the two symptoms below:
1. The victim must have extreme motor impairment in two extremities, which limits a person’s ability to stand up, balance, or use their arms.
2. The person needs to have a definite physical limitation as well as at least one of the following:
- trouble interacting with others;
- difficulties with understanding, remembering or applying information;
- trouble looking after themselves;
- difficulties with concentrating.
How to Automatically Qualify For a Disability Benefit
To qualify for the Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program, the SSA identifies claims where the applicant’s disease or condition clearly meets Social Security’s standard for disability. Compassionate Allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security's standards for disability benefits.
These conditions primarily include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and a number of rare disorders that affect children. The CAL program helps to reduce waiting time to reach a disability determination for individuals with the most serious disabilities.
Does MS Automatically Qualify For a Disability Benefit?
Malignant Multiple Sclerosis is listed as one of 13 new compassionate allowance diseases and conditions added by the SSA in October 2011. If you are applying for SSDI with malignant multiple sclerosis, you may qualify for a compassionate allowance. According to the SSA’s listing of impairments, or “Blue Book,” the following conditions must be met in order to qualify as disabled with Malignant Multiple Sclerosis:
- a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis which involves severe loss of motor skills in at least two extremes of the body, disabling you from performing basic and complex movements or from standing and walking;
- a visual or mental dysfunction;
- significant weakness in the muscles and loss of muscle function as revealed by your physical examination.
If your MS does not automatically qualify for compassionate allowances you may still qualify for a disability benefit by asking your physician to complete a Residual Function Capacity (RFC) assessment.
This evaluates your ability to move, sit down, pick up heavy weights, manage everyday activities, and your ability to communicate effectively. You may also need to provide more evidence proving your MS is so severe that you are unable to work for at least 12 months.
Get a Free Case Evaluation Today
Winning a disability benefit claim is never easy, but a lawyer may be able to help with your claim and can help you determine if you automatically qualify for benefits. If you believe your MS qualifies you for compassionate allowances because your condition is severe you will have a higher chance of winning your rights to receive disability benefits if a lawyer works on your behalf.
