People call osteoporosis a “silent disease” because there are usually no symptoms until a bone breaks.
People with osteoporosis have weaker bones because they are thinner and less dense than they should be. As a result, those with the disease are much more likely to experience broken bones or collapsed vertebrae. More than 50 million people in the U.S. live with osteoporosis, and although the condition is more common among women, men can also be affected.
If you have osteoporosis which prevents you from being able to hold onto a job, you may be eligible for financial assistance through one of the Social Security Disability programs. Here is how it works, from the Chicago disability lawyers at Nash Disability Law:
There are two disability programs: Social Security Disability Insurance, which is known as SSDI, and Supplemental Security Income, commonly referred to as SSI.
SSDI pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have a disability, and you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes recently enough. SSI, on the other hand, is based on financial need. The Social Security Administration (SSA) says, “It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income.”
To determine if you are medically eligible for disability benefits, Social Security has a set of procedures in place. These procedures are published in a handbook known as the “Blue Book,” and it includes a list of various disabling conditions known as “listings.”
Unfortunately, there is no specific listing for osteoporosis in the Blue Book. However, your symptoms may meet another listing.
For example, you may still qualify if you develop musculoskeletal symptoms (which are listed in the Blue Book) like broken bones or collapsed vertebrae that interfere with your activities of daily life. If your condition matches the criteria in the Blue Book, the Social Security Administration may award you disability benefits. However, people often do not meet the Blue Book standards.
There is a second way to qualify: demonstrate that the symptoms of your impairment prevent you from sustaining full-time competitive employment on a consistent and reliable basis.
To prove that osteoporosis prevents you from maintaining full-time employment, you must start with a diagnosis through a doctor’s exam.
But a diagnosis alone is not enough to qualify you for benefits.
Your doctor should also explain how your medical conditions limit your ability to work. They’ll usually use a form called the “Residual Functional Capacity” (RFC) form. The RFC form is separate from the medical records and helps your doctor to explain your limitations. To decide whether you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, the Social Security Administration will consider the RFC form along with other medical evidence.
All qualifying disabilities must appear likely to last and keep you out of work for at least 12 months.
If you have other impairments in addition to osteoporosis, you should also include these in your application for benefits.
Other underlying conditions worsened by osteoporosis could also qualify you for disability benefits. For instance, a person may suffer from kidney or liver failure.
Osteoporosis could also cause severe joint pain, hormone and vitamin deficiencies and even some autoimmune disorders. The Social Security Administration must take into consideration all your impairments when deciding whether you qualify for disability benefits.
If you have a disabling injury or illness like osteoporosis and your condition has made it impossible for you to hold a job, contact the disability attorneys at Nash Disability Law in Chicago for a free evaluation of your situation.
We can help you navigate the complex SSA disability claims process and guide you on the best path forward. We only get paid when you win your case.