Understanding Car Accident Claims

The Complications Of Diabetes And Social Security Disability

by Lois Gibson

When it comes to diabetes you might be shocked at the widespread damage this single disease can do. In fact, diabetes should not even be thought of as a single disease since it affects so many systems of the body. If the many symptoms of diabetes have affected your ability to work at your job, then you might be considering how Social Security could help. Read on to learn more about getting Social Security disability to pay you benefits for your diabetes.

An umbrella of conditions

As mentioned before, diabetes results in other medical conditions, and it is these conditions that you will find listed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA "blue book", as it's known, lists all the different diseases and medical conditions that they will cover, and there are several listed that fall under the umbrella of diabetes-related medical problems. So while diabetes itself may not be listed, look further and locate some of the related conditions that diabetes can cause.

When diabetes is uncontrolled

Diabetes is one of the many disorders that may be preventable if it's caught early enough. Diet and exercise can go a long way toward ensuring that the disease doesn't spread to other areas of your body besides your pancreas. Unless you can control your blood sugar, this disease could go on to affect your eyes, your heart, your nerves, and more. Here are a few of the diabetes-related medical conditions that can result and that the SSA covers for benefits.

1. Damage to vision caused by diabetic retinopathy

2. Damage to your nerves, particularly in your extremities, known as neuropathy. This can cause a burning, tingling, and numb feeling in your hands, feet, and legs.

3. Heart disease

4. Amputation of extremities due to nerve damage

5. Kidney disease

Getting benefits

Unfortunately, just because you are suffering from some of the above diabetes-related maladies doesn't automatically qualify you for benefits. There is much more to getting SSA help than that. You must:

1. Seek medical treatment for your disorder and continue in treatment

2. Have had a disorder for at least a year or will have it for at least a year

3. Be able to show medical proof of your disorder

4. Have worked enough in the past and have enough work credits.

If you get denied your benefits

Speak to a Social Security lawyer from a place like Putnam Lieb Potvin if you end up getting a denial letter in the mail. You only have a limited amount of time to act and to appeal the ruling, so seek professional legal help right away.

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