Diabetes Disability Eligibility
If you suffer from diabetes mellitus and are prevented from working you may be eligible for Social Security Disability. Diabetes benefits are primarily based on how the diabetes affects your ability to work. Social Security looks at the “functional limitations” caused by your diabetes rather than just the fact you have been diagnosed with diabetes.
1. Are you working?
If you are working in 2007 and your earnings average more than $900 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled.
If you are working in 2008 and your earnings average more than $940 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled.
If you are not working because of diabetes, we go to Step 2.
2. Is your condition “severe”?
Your diabetes must interfere with basic work-related activities for your claim to be considered. If it does not, we will find that you are not disabled. If your condition does interfere with basic work-related activities, we go to Step 3.
3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?
For each of the major body systems, social security maintains a list of medical conditions that are so severe they mean that you are automatically disabled. Diabetes is listed under the Endocrine System category of impairments (Listing 9.08). For your diabetes to be severe enough to meet this social security listing you must satisfy one of the following:
A) neuropathy which results in persistent difficulty using the hands or standing and walking,
B) acidosis that happens on average of once every two months, or
C) retinitis proliferans which is evaluated under the listings for visual impairments. If it is, we will find that you are disabled. If it is not, we then go to Step 4.
4. Can you do the work you did previously?
If your diabetes is severe but not at the same or equal level of severity as a medical condition on the list, then we must determine if the diabetes disability interferes with your ability to do the work you did previously. If it does not, your claim will be denied. If it does, we proceed to Step 5.
5. Can you do any other type of work?
If you cannot do the work you did in the past, we see if you are able to adjust to other work. Social security considers your medical conditions and vocational rules which vary according to your age, education, past work experience and any transferable skills you may have. If your diabetes disability prevents you from adjusting to other work, your claim will be approved. If you can adjust to other work, your claim will be denied.
A Fields Law Social Security disability diabetes lawyer will assist you in the disability process for your diabetes disability. If you are unable to work because of diabetes mellitus we can help you apply for social security benefits. If you have been denied diabetes disability benefits we can appeal your case.
We offer a Free case review. Our Minnesota disability lawyers understand how frustrating it is to have diabetes and be denied disability benefits when you are unable to work. There are never any fees unless we win your disability case.
We are a Minnesota Disability Law Firm dedicated to helping people in Minnesota get the Social Security Disability benefits they deserve.
Minnesota Social Security