Our Dedicated Louisiana Social Security Disability Lawyer Helps Clients With Spinal Cord Injuries Navigate the SSDI Application Process
Spinal cord injuries can be life-altering, resulting in wide-ranging sensory, motor, and autonomic impairments that can significantly impact your ability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). If you suffered a spinal injury that prevents employment, Phillip M. Hendry Law can help you explore your eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Find out how our seasoned Louisiana Social Security disability lawyer can help you complete your SSDI application, avoid common mistakes, and increase your chances of approval.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
The brain and spinal cord comprise the central nervous system, which relays signals between your brain and the rest of your body. An injury to the spinal cord or surrounding tissue and vertebrae can disrupt signal transmission, resulting in temporary or permanent changes in sensation, strength, movement, and body function below the injury site.
These injuries can be “incomplete,” meaning only some signals, feelings, and movements are affected, or “complete,” entirely stopping signal transmission below the injury and causing a total loss of sensation and movement control, known as paralysis. Tetraplegia, also called quadriplegia, affects the trunk, arms, legs, hands, and pelvic organs, while paraplegia involves paralysis of the legs, pelvic organs, and all or part of the trunk.
If you’re living with a spinal cord injury or paralysis that prevents employment, you could be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Spinal Cord Injuries and SSDI Eligibility
SSDI provides health coverage and monthly payments for people with severe medical impairments who cannot engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). Here’s what you need to qualify.
- Loss of substantial gainful activity. Even if you are still working, your average monthly earnings must fall below the SGA threshold to qualify for benefits. In 2024, the SGA earnings limit is $2,590 for blind applicants and $1,550 for everyone else.
- Work credits. Working in jobs that pay into Social Security earns work credits. Most applicants need 40 credits to qualify for SSDI; younger applicants may be eligible with fewer credits.
- Medical impairment. Applicants must have a severe medically determinable impairment (MDI) that prevents SGA; you establish your MDI with objective evidence from acceptable medical sources (AMS) rather than self-reported symptoms.
- Duration. Your MDI must last for at least 12 months or be terminal.
Getting Approved for SSDI for Spinal Cord Injury or Paralysis
The Social Security Administration (SSA) understands the dramatic effect a spinal cord injury or paralysis can have on your ability to maintain SGA. Numerous spinal cord injuries qualify for SSDI, and the SSA considers some automatically disabling. The Blue Book Listing of Impairments includes approval criteria for spinal cord injuries in Section 11.08. Here’s an overview of the various paths to approval.
Meeting or Equaling a Listing
You could gain SSDI approval by meeting the Blue Book requirements for spinal disorders or a related listing or proving that your injury is as disabling as one that qualifies.
Medical Vocational Allowance
You could also get approved for benefits if you prove that your condition prevents you from performing any job.
Automatic Qualification
You could automatically qualify for disability if you can provide medical evidence showing that your spinal cord injury resulted in any of the following:
- Complete loss of function of any body part
- Limited function in two extremities, making it extremely difficult to stand up, balance while standing or walking, or use the upper limbs for three or more consecutive months
- Pronounced limitation in physical functioning and understanding, remembering, or applying information; interacting with others; concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace; or adapting or managing oneself.
How Our SSDI Attorney Could Help You Expedite Your Approval
Concerned about the SSDI application process? Phillip Hendry can help you gather crucial evidence establishing your MDI, complete the application, review it for common mistakes resulting in denials, and increase your chances of timely approval. Don’t do it alone; trust your SSDI claim to the skilled legal professionals at Phillip M. Hendry Law.