October 18, 2024 | Personal Injury

What Are the Top 10 Disabilities?

Being disabled involves much more than physical and emotional consequences. Because of their condition, a person may be unable to work and earn a living. If so, they may need financial assistance to support themselves and their families.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) operates two programs that provide financial assistance to individuals with disabilities. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a program for low-income individuals who have never worked or not worked long enough to qualify for Social Security Disability.

Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) is a program that provides financial assistance to individuals who become disabled. The individual must have worked enough time to pay into the Social Security system to qualify for SSDI.

Both programs require individuals to meet the SSA’s definition of disabled. A person is disabled if they:

  • Have a medically diagnosable mental or physical disability;
  • That prevents them from engaging in a substantial gainful activity (i.e., work) and,
  • Is expected to last at least one year or result in death.

The SSA has a list of conditions that usually meet their definition of disabled. The Blue Book contains the conditions and the criteria for the condition to be disabling. Merely having the condition does not always mean a person meets the definition of disabled.

Many mental and physical conditions can result in total disability. The leading categories for Social Security disability claims include:

  1. Musculoskeletal System & Connective Tissue Issues

Many conditions negatively affect a person’s connective tissues, which include ligaments, cartilage, and bones. Conditions in this disability category include arthritis, degenerative disc disease, ruptured discs, carpal tunnel syndrome, spine disorders, and scoliosis.

  1. Injuries

Catastrophic injuries may result in disabling conditions that prevent a person from working. Examples of situations and accidents that could result in disabling conditions include:

You may receive economic and non-economic damages from a personal injury lawsuit. However, you may also be entitled to Social Security disability benefits if you are disabled because of the injury.

  1. Mood Disorders

A person suffering from a mood disorder may have debilitating mood swings that prevent them from functioning in everyday life. These disorders can prevent them from holding a job. Mood disorders include persistent depressive disorder, cyclothymic disorder, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.

  1. Neoplasms

A neoplasm is an abnormal growth. The growths may be benign (i.e., non-cancerous), pre-cancerous, or cancerous. The conditions included in this category include lipomas, adenomas, fibromas, and hemangiomas.

  1. Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders

Individuals with psychotic disorders may not grasp reality. They may experience hallucinations, disorganized speech, delusions, and catatonic behavior. The symptoms may make it impossible to function sufficiently to hold a job.

  1. Nervous System

The nervous system includes the nerves, brain, spinal cord, and sensory organs. An injury or disease impacting the nervous system could result in paralysis and other disabling conditions. Medical conditions included in this category are Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, and multiple sclerosis (MS).

  1. Organic Mental Disorders

Some mental disorders result from diseases or defects that occur organically, including dementia, delirium, and Alzheimer’s disease. These conditions may create an immediate disability, or the disability may develop over time as the symptoms progressively worsen.

  1. Circulatory System

Injuries and illnesses that impact the heart and blood vessels can cause disabling symptoms. Examples of conditions included in this category are heart attacks, strokes, high cholesterol, arrhythmia, and peripheral artery disease. The disability may develop as the condition worsens.

  1. Other Mental Conditions

Mental health conditions can result in debilitating symptoms that prevent a person from performing the tasks for a job. The SSA reviews cases of mental conditions to determine if the person’s symptoms can be controlled sufficiently with medical treatment to allow them to work.

  1. Intellectual Disabilities

Some intellectual and cognitive impairments are so severe they prevent a person from learning skills or performing tasks necessary for a job. Conditions in this category include Down syndrome, developmental delays, and Prader-Willi syndrome.

Do I Need to Hire a St. Petersburg Social Security Disability Lawyer?

Filing for Social Security disability can be a challenging process. The initial application can be confusing and time-consuming. A simple error on your application could result in a denial of your claim. Appealing a denial of disability claim is more complicated. A St. Petersburg Social Security disability lawyer can help you with the process. They understand the law and the requirements for disability benefits. Call Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group for a free consultation to discuss your case with an attorney.

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Florida

If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced personal injury lawyers at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group to schedule a free consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Florida, including Vero Beach, St. Petersburg, and Port St. Lucie.

Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group – Vero Beach
2651 20th St
Vero Beach, FL 32960
(772) 758-1966

Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group – St. Petersburg
200 Central Ave Suite 304
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(772) 569-8155

Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group – Port St. Lucie
10805 SW Tradition Square Unit 024A
Port St. Lucie, FL 34987
(772) 677-0373