Knee Pain Disability Attorneys
About 25% of adults in the United States have some degree of knee pain. The number of people experiencing knee pain and seeking medical care from their doctors has increased by 65% in the past 20 years. You may be reading this because you happen to be one of them and want to know about qualifying for knee pain disability.
It’s not easy to qualify for disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs managed through the Social Security Administration. You must have a medical condition causing total and long-term disability that prevents you from doing any form of gainful employment.
The knee pain disability attorneys at GCC Law Firm know that proving a claim for disability benefits requires evidence of a medical condition severe enough to prevent you from doing work activities at a sustained level. If knee pain interferes with your ability to work, GCC Law can help you navigate the knee injury disability claim process from the initial application through the appeal process to challenge an unfavorable decision.
Social Security Disability Benefit Programs For Knee Pain
Each of the disability programs administered by the Social Security Administration, SSDI and SSI, provides monthly benefit payments and coverage for medical expenses. They use the same standard to determine whether you are disabled, but their non-medical rules for eligibility differ.
People who worked and paid Social Security taxes on their income can qualify for SSDI benefits provided their work history is of a long enough duration. Some of the work history must have occurred recently to the onset of a claimant’s disability.
The number of work credits required for SSDI eligibility depends on your age at the onset of your disability. For example, a person applying for SSD for knee pain at age 24 must have six work credits earned within three years of the disability. However, a worker applying for disability benefits at 27 needs 12 credits earned within six years of becoming disabled.
If you do not have a work history sufficient for SSDI eligibility, the SSI program bases eligibility on financial need without regard to your work record. You must be financially eligible for SSI by not exceeding income and resource limits.
Medical Eligibility For SSI And SSDI With Knee Pain
The definition of disability used to evaluate eligibility for SSDI and SSI requires medical evidence of the following:
- A physical or mental impairment or a combination of impairments.
- The impairment or impairments must keep you from doing substantial gainful work activities.
- The impairment or impairments must be expected to result in death or must have lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 months.
Knee pain disability benefits would not be available under the federal definition of disability for temporary conditions. The definition also excludes conditions that may limit your ability to do certain types of work but not others.
GCC Law Helps You Navigate The Knee Injury Disability Claim Process
Qualifying for Social Security Disability for knee conditions depends on their severity, but it all begins with a diagnosis and supporting medical records. The records should include results of a physical examination by a medical professional, supported by diagnostic testing, such as MRIs, X-rays, and CT scans.
The Social Security Administration uses a Listing of Impairments, commonly called the “Blue Book,” in its evaluation of medical conditions. Listed impairments are those considered severe enough to meet the federal disability definition.
Knee pain disability benefits may be payable by meeting listing 1.18, abnormality of a major joint in any extremity, of the musculoskeletal disorders of the Blue Book. The listing requires medical evidence of all of the following:
- Chronic joint pain or stiffness.
- Abnormal motion, instability, or immobility of the joint.
- An anatomical abnormality of the affected joint as disclosed by physical examination and diagnostic imaging.
- Medically documented need for one of the following devices: Walker, bilateral canes, crutches, wheelchair, or seated mobility device.
Other listed conditions, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, may produce symptoms severe enough to allow a person to qualify for knee pain disability benefits.
Qualifying For Knee Pain Disability With Residual Functional Capacity
The knee pain disability attorneys at GCC Law understand the difficulties of qualifying for SSDI or SSI with knee pain using the Listing of Impairments. Your medical condition may not satisfy the requirements of a listed impairment, but you may qualify for knee pain disability benefits using your residual functional capacity (RFC).
The Social Security Administration evaluates your medical condition to determine the work activities you can do despite any limitations that knee pain causes. A consultative exam, usually conducted by your treating physician or by an independent healthcare professional who assesses your physical and mental capabilities, determines the limitations imposed by your medical condition. The focus is on your ability to do work-related activities, including walking, sitting, standing, lifting, and carrying objects. Mental capabilities evaluated include understanding and performing instructions while following a routine under work conditions.
Your RFC determines your ability to do the work you did in the recent past. It also determines whether you have the capacity to adjust to doing other types of work that may be available in the national or regional economies. Factors considered include your age, education, work experience, and training.
Let Our Knee Pain Disability Attorneys Help You Through The Disability Claim Process
The Social Security Administration annually denies benefits to about two-thirds of applicants seeking disability benefits. Improve your chances of success with help from the experienced and skilled knee pain disability attorneys at GCC Law. Whether you’re filing an initial application for knee pain disability benefits or appealing a denial, our disability attorneys can help you. Contact GCC Law to learn more during a free initial consultation.
Medical Conditions Listed for Disability Benefits:
Call Our Illinois Knee Pain Disability Lawyers Today
At GCC Law Firm, our Illinois Knee Pain disability attorneys provide personalized, solutions-driven legal advocacy for clients. If your SSDI or SSI claim has been denied in Illinois, we can help. Contact us to schedule a free and completely confidential initial consultation, please contact our law firm today.
Call (479) 340-0002.