Do you have spondylolisthesis? You might struggle to hold down a job if so. The pain this condition can cause often makes performing even sedentary work challenging.

Keep reading to learn more about how you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. If spondylolisthesis prevents you from working and paying for basic needs, financial assistance may be available.

What is Spondylolisthesis?

Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which the vertebrae of an individual’s spine move around or are unstable. A person may develop spondylolisthesis if a vertebra “slips” from its position and onto the vertebra below it.

Spondylolisthesis has various potential causes. Athletes who develop this condition often do so as a result of overextending their spines. Some people are also genetically predisposed to develop spondylolisthesis more easily than others.

Meyerding’s classification of spondylolisthesis allows physicians to assign a degree of severity to cases of spondylolisthesis. The grades are as follows:

• Grade I (up to 25% vertebral slippage)
• Grade II (up to 50% vertebral slippage)
• Grade III (up to 75% vertebral slippage)
• Grade IV (up to 100% vertebral slippage)
• Grade V (vertebral slippage of greater than 100%)

Is Spondylolisthesis a Disability?

Spondylolisthesis may prevent you from working. Per the U.S. Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Blue Book listing for “1.15 Disorders of the skeletal spine resulting in compromise of a nerve root(s),” spondylolisthesis qualifies as a disability.

You may thus be eligible to receive disability benefits if you can’t work due to spondylolisthesis. These benefits may help you cover the cost of housing, food, and other essentials.

Spondylolisthesis and Your Ability to Perform Physical Work

Pain and discomfort are common symptoms of spondylolisthesis. Severe pain may render it difficult if not impossible for someone with this condition to consistently perform manual labor tasks.

Don’t take risks if you have spondylolisthesis. If your doctor says you can’t do physical labor because of your condition, heed their advice.

Spondylolisthesis and Your Ability to Perform Sedentary Work

Perhaps your job doesn’t involve physical work or labor. Maybe it’s a desk job or a similar form of sedentary work.

Even so, spondylolisthesis may still interfere with your ability to perform your work duties. This is because the chronic pain that may result from spondylolisthesis often grows worse when a person must sit for an extended period of time. Someone with this condition may even experience pain so distracting that it prevents them from focusing on work tasks.

Get Help From a Social Security Disability Attorney

You may be asking “Do I qualify for Social Security disability benefits?” if you can’t work as a consequence of developing spondylolisthesis. Be aware, even if you technically are eligible for benefits, that doesn’t mean receiving them is as easy as submitting the paperwork.

The SSA tends to deny initial applications, citing lack of sufficient medical evidence and various other reasons for doing so. One way to potentially strengthen your chances of receiving the benefits you might deserve is to seek representation from a disability attorney. Fill out the Free Case Evaluation to get connected with an independent attorney who subscribes to the website and may be able to help with your case.