How to Acquire Disability Benefits for Blindness
Becoming blind can be one of the hardest major life changes to go through. Keeping the job you had before might be impossible but so might finding a new job. When this happens, bills stack up fast and finances can plummet. You may not have to let this happen to you if you qualify for disability benefits. Consider reaching out to an experienced Wilmington disability lawyer who can help you with your disability benefits application.
DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR BLINDNESS
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability benefits for people who are blind. They do this through two different programs, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You may qualify for disability benefits for blindness through either of these programs.
SSDI and SSI are both designed to cover basic living expenses like food, shelter, housing, and clothing. There are some differences regarding eligibility. For SSDI, you must have enough Social Security work credits built up through your job history to qualify. You will not likely qualify if none of your past jobs paid into social security.
SSI does not require any work credits but does require a limit on your monthly income. In other words, if you are still working, your monthly income must not exceed a certain amount. Otherwise, you will not be eligible for SSI benefits.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS
To qualify for disability benefits, you must meet the eligibility criteria. Basic disability benefits eligibility criteria state that you must have evidence of:
- Mental or physical disability
- Your disability impairs your functioning and ability to work
- You are not able to perform a certain level of substantial gainful activity
- There are no other jobs options for you
With blindness specifically, you will need medical evidence that you are legally blind or have statutory blindness. If not, you must show with medical records that your central visual acuity is no more than 20/200 in your best eye. This includes better eyes with the use of a corrective lens.
Do not panic if you do not meet these standards. You may still qualify for disability benefits if you can prove your vision problems prevent you from working. Part of this requires remonstrating your residual functional capacity (RFC).
Undergoing an RFC evaluation will determine whether you can do other jobs despite your vision problems. If you cannot do other work, you have a higher chance of receiving disability benefits. What this often means is you cannot safely or reasonably do any other type of work.
If you have questions or concerns, try contacting a Wilmington disability lawyer who can guide you through this process. You do not have to make applying for disability benefits stressful. Talk to an experienced lawyer today.
DISABILITY LAWYER IN DELAWARE
Filing an application for disability benefits can be tedious and stressful. Talking to a Delaware disability attorney can be helpful for speeding up the disability claim process. Start by contacting Edelstein Martin & Nelson today at (302) 295-5050 for a free consultation about your claim. Our legal team of disability lawyers can help you figure out what evidence you need for your disability claim.