The program was launched in 2008 with 50 qualifying conditions, but the list has quickly grown to more than 100. It was launched by Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue shortly after he took office in 2007.
]]> One illness that qualifies for Compassionate Allowances is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS. It is a neurodegenerative disease that breaks down nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord, causing progressive weakness and eventually trapping the patient in his or her body. Most suffers die within three years of the onset of ALS, which explains why around 30,000 people in Washington and around the U.S. are living with ALS despite the fact that more than 5,600 people are diagnosed with the disease each year.Despite the expedited Compassionate Allowances process, patients with conditions such as ALS might still consider consulting with an attorney who specializes in SSDI when applying for benefits. The process can be complicated for someone who is inexperienced with dealing with the SSA, and those with a severely debilitating disability generally cannot wait for delays caused by miscommunication or a mistake.
Source: NorthJersey.com, "Faster disability approval for people with ALS," Cynthia Rist, May 18, 2012
]]>Thus thousands of people find they are unable to find a job despite their best efforts. There are unemployment benefits, but they do not last forever. For many unemployed disabled workers, the only option once unemployment runs out is to apply for Social Security disability benefits.
]]> Many have the perception that many people who receive SSDI benefits are using it as a secondary unemployment insurance. But the reality is that only 35 percent of applicants are granted benefits by the Social Security Administration. Many people who are seriously disabled find that they must appeal a SSA rejection to obtain the benefits to which they are legally entitled.Still, there is no denying that more people are receiving SSDI benefits than in years past. Around 5.6 percent of working age people receive the benefits, an increase of more than 1 percent since 2007. One economics professor predicted that the figure will be 7 percent by 2018. If the SSDI fund does not collect more revenue, it could run out of money in 2016.
Besides the poor job prospects for disabled people, the aging U.S. population is likely a factor. The baby boom generation is now well into its 50s and 60s, and were responsible for two-thirds of the increased applications from 2000 to 2007.
Source: Reuters, "Job disability a headache for U.S. recovery," Antonella Ciancio, May 7, 2012
]]>The woman was first diagnosed with fibrolamella, a rare form of liver cancer, in 1999. Surgeons removed a large tumor and the woman believed that her ordeal was over, but a year later she needed another operation. Doctors told her she only had a few years to live.
]]> But the woman has been a cancer survivor for 13 years, one of the longest-lived for people diagnosed with fibrolamella. However, a stomach operation two years ago left her dependant on a feeding tube and had to quit her job as a special needs teacher. She went on SSDI benefits, but was left frustrated by the system.Her illness also took a toll on the woman's personal life. Her marriage ended and she had to give up an infant she adopted.
Her personal losses and problems with the system led her to become an advocate for SSDI reform. She is gathering signatures for a petition to Congress to raise SSA's resource limit of $2,000 for applicants to $20,000. She also wants SSA to consider all of a disabled person's prior work history, not just the past 10 years as the process currently does. She pointed out that for people dealing with debilitating conditions or illnesses, the most recent decade may be their lowest-earning.
Source: Dayton Daily News, "Cancer survivor advocate for disability rights of all," Susan Dalzell, May 2, 2012
]]>Spina bifida is one of the most common types of birth defect. It is a condition where the bones of the spine do not form properly. While most cases are mild and do not cause any symptoms, more severe forms of spina bifida can cause serious disability. People with the most severe form can have trouble with walking, coordination and controlling their bladder and bowels. They can also develop intellectual disabilities, seizures and vision problems.
]]> It appears that the woman in this case is pregnant with a fetus that has the most severe form of spina bifida. The mother and her husband want surgeons to operate on the infant while she is still in the uterus. It is a new operation that her physicians believe could double the baby's chances of walking one day.But the couple's insurance has declined to pay for the operation. The company says the operation is still in the experimental phase. The couple disputes that and says the surgery ended the experimental period a year ago. They recently travelled to a different state to have the surgery done, only to be rejected by the insurance company again. As of April 19, they were still hoping to change the insurance company's mind before the fetus had grown too big to have the operation.
Source: ABC 4 News, "Utah parents battle insurance over Spina Bifida surgery," Kim Fischer, April 19, 2012
]]>A new study says a blood test to diagnose depression may be on the horizon. Researchers examined 14 teenagers with untreated major depression. When compared with an equal number of teens without depression, the researchers were able to distinguish 11 genetic markers that may be linked to depression.
]]> The author of the study, which was published in the most recent issue of "Translational Psychiatry," said the markers are probably just the "tip of the iceberg," given depression's complexity. Many people may not realize it, but there are different types of depression, and different types do not respond to the same treatments, the author said. So finding out for sure that a person has depression, and exactly what kind of depression he or she has, would be very useful in treating the illness.The test was rather small in scale, so further research into the gene markers will be needed before doctors will be able to say with confidence that their presence indicates a diagnosis of depression. But should such a blood test become available, a positive result would likely make obtaining disability benefits from SSA easier.
Source: CBS News, "Depression blood test for teens may lead to better treatment, less stigma," Ryan Jaslow, April 17, 2012
]]>The story of a 39-year-old woman with several physical and mental health issues provides a good example. The woman, a mother of two, worked for years as a certified nursing assistant before opening a day care center in her home.
]]> About 10 years ago, the woman began experiencing numbness in her limbs. The problem grew so bad that her legs would sometimes give out from under her. As numbness turned into pain, doctors diagnosed her with herniated and protruding disks in her spine. She underwent physical therapy and took medication to deal with the symptoms, and had a disk removed surgically in 2006.The woman also had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. She developed anxiety and depression as her back pain worsened. She takes medication to deal with her mental health issues, but the pain and her neck and back is so severe that she must go to a surgical clinic for painkiller injections. She has been unable to work since 2005.
Despite all this, when the woman filed for SSDI benefits in 2005, SSA waited two years before rejecting her claim. She appealed and a federal judge sent her case back to the agency for review in 2009.
Source: The News Journal, "Social Security: Hopeless situation sends Delaware mom to depths of despair," Mike Chalmers, Nov. 22, 2009
]]>This is the situation one woman who receives SSDI for her disabilities has found herself in. The 48-year-old woman, whose speech difficulties, hearing loss and depression prevent her from working, receives $609 per month from the Social Security Administration. But her April benefits were never electronically deposited in her bank account as they were supposed to.
]]> When she contacted her local SSA office, she was told the money had gone to another account in another bank that the agency believed belonged to her. The woman said she did not change her account.Sheriff's deputies are investigating how the money was redirected. They believe that someone stole the woman's Social Security number and opened an account in her name. A spokeswoman said that, with the proper personal data, anyone can change someone's direct deposit information on the Social Security website.
Meanwhile, the woman has not gotten her money as of April 5. She said she was upset worrying about her finances and hoped that whoever was responsible for stealing her benefits gets caught soon.
It is important to protect your Social Security number from strangers. If stolen, identity theft incidents like this one could be the result.
Source: WZVN-TV, "Woman scammed out of disability check," April 5, 2012
]]>For example, many people with OCD are perfectionists and workaholics. Those traits sound like they would be beneficial to your career, but can actually work against OCD sufferers. Perfectionism can be paralyzing, forcing you to work on a project well past its deadline until it is "right." Other common traits of OCD include a disrespect of others' authority and an insistence that everyone do things your way - which can keep sufferers from succeeding in their job. In especially severe cases, the person may be unable to work due to his or her OCD compulsions and need to go on Social Security disability benefits.
]]> An article about OCD provides an example of a person whose disorder interfered with her work duties. She worked for a district attorney's office and worked so hard on her reports that she routinely failed to meet her deadlines. Her obsession with eliminating mistakes consumed her, causing her to stay late at the office and lose sleep. She made endless lists that, instead of improving her efficiency, hurt her ability to get through her work.Fortunately, OCD is treatable. The standard treatment is a combination of educating yourself about the disorder, medication and therapy. Therapeutic practices include psychotherapy and behavior therapy.
Source: The Coloradoan, "Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder can get in way of work," Sandi Squicquero, March 27, 2012
]]>Parents of children with an autism spectrum disorder usually face the challenging task of caring for a child with special needs while still providing an income for the family. A new study finds that families in that situation earn nearly $18,000 less per year than other households, as mothers seem to take on the lion's share of the burden of caring for autistic children and fall behind in their careers as a result.
]]> The study was based on data from a nation survey conducted between 2002 and 2008 that included 261 children with autism. Though fathers of autistic children had the same employment rate and earned as much as father whose children without the disorder, the numbers appeared to expose a significant difference in income and employment among mothers.Mothers of autistic children had a six percent higher unemployment rate than other mothers. When they did have jobs, those jobs tended to be lower-earning and less stable. Mothers of the 261 autistic children averaged less than half the income of other mothers and worked around seven fewer hours per week. The trend resulted in families with autistic children earning $17,763 less per year.
Researchers believe the lower income for mothers is due to their having to transport their children between a number of care providers. Mothers of autistic children tend to become their case managers and not have time for a full-time job, one autism researcher said. Families in this position may qualify for Supplemental Security Income if the household income is insufficient to meet basic needs.
Source: Reuters, "Moms of autistic children work less, earn less," Frederik Joelving, March 19, 2012
]]>Bipolar disorder can seriously limit a patient's ability to work. The Social Security Administration recognizes it as a qualifying disability in its "blue book" of mental disorders. SSA requires that an applicant claiming that he or she is disabled due to bipolar disorder prove that he or she suffers from some combination of symptoms listed in the blue book. Possible qualifying symptoms include depressive symptoms such as trouble sleeping or suicidal thoughts combines with manic symptoms such as hyperactivity, delusions or uncontrolled thinking.
]]> One of the most common treatments for bipolar disorder is lithium. However, though research has found a connection between the disorder and disruptions in patients' circadian rhythms - the internal "clock" that regulates when we feel alert and tired - up until now, little investigation has been made into how lithium affects that system.A new study has found that lithium does indeed affect the circadian rhythm. A study performed on mice found that lithium administered at therapeutic levels lengthens the locomotor activity - or physical movement - rhythms in the test animals. The study also identified a specific protein in the brain that shortened the circadian period, perhaps leading to further treatment in the future.
Source: Highlight Health, "Body Clock Strength Impacts Bipolar Disorder," Walter Jessen, March 16, 2012
]]>This form of benefits is called Social Security Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. It is a different source of benefits than SSDI, though both require the applicant to prove that he or she has a disability or illness that makes it impossible to earn an income. SSDI and SSI use the same medical standards to define disability in adults. However, SSI is need-based, meaning that someone who is being supported by family members is less likely to qualify for SSI benefits than someone living alone.
]]> Another difference is that adults over age 65 can qualify for SSI, as can blind or disabled children. SSA uses a different disability for children than it does for adult applicants. Those who are eligible for SSI may also receive Social Security benefits, based on his or her work history or those of family members. In Washington and nearly every other state, applicants may also seek food assistance.As with SSDI, SSA rejects the majority of SSI applications, with about two-thirds of applications being denied. However, rejected applicants may appeal the rejection. Having to establish proof both of disability and of financial need can complicate the effort for SSI benefits.
Source: Social Security Online, "Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI Overview," 2011 Edition, accessed March 8, 2012
]]>The administrative check-ins are called "continuing disability reviews." Their purpose is to determine whether the recipient's medical condition has improved to the point where he or she no longer qualifies for SSDI benefits.
]]> No one is automatically immune from having a continuing disability review conducted on their case. One attorney who works on continuing disability review cases said she has had a client with stage 4 cancer be investigated by SSA. Other clients the agency believed may have improved included a woman completely dependent on an oxygen machine and another woman with no adrenal gland function.How often SSDI recipients can expect a review depends on how the agency evaluates their condition. SSA divides recipients into three categories: medical improvement expected, medical improvement possible and medical improvement not expected. As the prospects for recovery supposedly improve, the more often the agency is going to conduct a disability review.
There are some other criteria that make a review more or less likely. For example, people over age 50 are less likely to have their condition reviewed. Also, a recipient who shows unexplained income on his or her Social Security record may well face some questions about how he or she earned that money.
Source: Jackson Sun, "Social Security and disability reviews," Beth Bates, Feb. 27, 2012
]]>Unlike degenerative arthritis, which typically strikes older people, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms often develop between ages 30 or 60. Those with the condition can suffer from severe joint pain that starts in the hands and feet and can spread to the knees, wrists and neck. One man profiled in a news report has undergone seven knee operations and recently had three disks in his neck fused.
]]> Doctors generally treat rheumatoid arthritis with Methotrexate, a drug from the chemotherapy group that presents some side effects. For those for whom Methotrexate is only partially effective, a newer class of drugs called biological agents has been shown to treat symptoms in 85 percent of patients.However, that leaves around 15 percent of patients for whom there is no effective treatment. For these people, working to support themselves may become increasingly difficult until it is no longer possible. For these men and women, Social Security disability insurance may be a necessary option. In order to maximize their chances of being approved for SSDI benefits, those with rheumatoid arthritis need to make sure their condition has been properly diagnosed and medically proven to make work activities impossible.
Nevertheless, many SSDI applications are denied, requiring people to appeal. An attorney who specializes in SSDI appeals can be very helpful when this occurs.
Source: Asbury Park Press, "Rheumatoid arthritis treatments have benefits, negatives," Susan Bloom, Feb. 20, 2012
]]>One difficulty many people with mental illness face is receiving an accurate diagnosis, which SSDI requires before it will consider granting benefits. Being able to detect the potential for a psychiatric condition before the onset of symptoms may help patients receive treatment and present the strongest possible claim for benefits down the line.
]]> But predicting who is likely to develop a mental illness has always been difficult. Even genetic factors only seem to create a slightly higher risk for the children of those with a mental condition. For example, the child of a person with bipolar disorder has a 10 percent higher risk of developing the disorder him- or herself.A new study suggests that there is promise in using computer programs to determine risk factors for mental illness. The study gathered 32 healthy teenagers - 16 of which have a parent with bipolar disorder and 16 who do not - and had them watch images of faces on a computer screen. While their brains were being scanned by a functional magnetic resonance imaging machine, the participants were asked to determine the gender of the faces, which had either happy, neutral or fearful expressions.
The results were later fed into a computer program tasked with predicting which participants were at a higher risk of developing mental illness later. The computer's predictions turned out to accurate around 75 percent of the time. This indicates that future software might be even more accurate in predicting mental illness.
Source: Medical News Today, "Anxiety And Mood Disorder Risk - Computer Program May Help Identify," Petra Rattue, Feb. 16, 2012
]]>Many people in Washington State who can no longer work to support themselves due to an illness or injury become frustrated after SSI rejects their claim, but that rejection is not the end of the road. There are steps you can take to possibly get that rejection overturned. But first you have to avoid the mistakes that applicants, inexperienced in SSDI law, often make. Here is a list of common mistakes applicants make after their claim is denied:
]]> • Not appealing. The process of applying for SSDI benefits is complicated, but as the numbers above imply, appeals are very common and can lead to receiving benefits. Remember that when you paid into the SSDI system when you worked, so you have the right to draw benefits when you are unable to work due to disability.• Not providing enough information. Common examples include failing to provide details about all the doctors who examined you or specific information about how your condition affects your ability to work.
• Not keeping the state Disability Determination Services informed. Like in all states, Washington has a DDS office that helps SSI determine whether an applicant is disabled for SSDI purposes. It is important to keep DDS up to date on doctors' visits and test results.
Source: Houston Chronicle, "Social Security Disability Appeals Reached New Record in 2011," Feb. 7, 2012
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