Hip Fracture Disability Attorneys
Each year, more than 350,000 people in the United States require emergency medical treatment because of a hip fracture. Most people require surgery and a lengthy recovery period that may not result in the ability to walk as they did before the injury. Depending on the severity of your injury, you could be eligible for disability benefits through Social Security for hip injuries.
Qualifying for hip fracture disability is not easy. The application and disability review process of the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies more claims than it approves by a wide margin. Of the applications for disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs submitted each year, only about one-third are approved for benefits. The other two-thirds must challenge the decision through a lengthy appeal process, though some of them simply give up in frustration.
GCC Law takes the frustration and mystery out of the Social Security disability claims process. Our hip fracture disability attorneys put their years of experience and knowledge of the law, regulations, and procedures to the task of fighting to get you the benefits you need when a severe medical condition prevents you from working.
Get your disability claim started with a consultation and claim evaluation with one of our disability attorneys. Learn how GCC Law can make life easier for you by handling your hip fracture claim from the application through the appeal process.
What You Should Know About Hip Fractures And Disability Benefits
Hip fracture is the term medical professionals use for a fracture of the upper portion of the femur at the hip joint. The upper portion of the femur, the large thigh bone, has a ball-like shape at the top that fits into the pelvis socket. A fall or other trauma may fracture the section of the femur that forms the ball of the ball-and-socket joint of the hip.
Hip fractures are classified according to where the break in the femur occurs. A femoral head fracture involves the ball-like cap at the end of the femur. The protrusion extending at a right angle from the shaft of the femur is the femoral neck, so a fracture to it would be a femoral neck fracture.
Common symptoms that you sustained a hip fracture include:
- Severe pain
- Limited hip or leg mobility
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Deformity
Healthcare professionals conduct a physical examination and diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays, MRI, and CT scans, to diagnose the presence of a hip fracture.
If you have a hip fracture, you probably will need either hip replacement or open reduction and internal fixation surgery. Hip replacement can be either partial or total, depending on the type of fracture. The open reduction and internal fixation surgery involves insertion of screws, plates, or other device into the bone to hold it in place during the healing process or they may be left in place after the injury has healed.
Complications may occur following surgery. Bone infection, failure of the broken bone to completely grow back together, or bone death caused by insufficient blood flow are some of the complications that can leave a person unable to walk, climb stairs, stand for long periods, and other disabling conditions. Some people with hip fractures end up with pain and discomfort for the rest of their lives.
Social Security For Hip Injuries When You Cannot Work Following A Hip Fracture
The SSDI and SSI programs pay hip fracture disability benefits when you cannot work. An essential thing to remember is that neither program pays benefits for partial or temporary disability.
SSDI and SSI use the same definition of disability when evaluating applications for benefits. You must be unable to do substantial and gainful work activities because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or a combination of impairments expected to last for at least one year or expected to result in death.
The SSI program does not require that you have a work history for eligibility. It bases eligibility on financial need, so you cannot have more than a limited amount of income and limited resources. For example, the value of all resources you own cannot exceed $2,000 as an individual and $3,000 for eligible couples.
The SSDI program requires you to work long enough at jobs or through self-employment with Social Security taxes paid on your earnings or income to be eligible. Some of the work must be done recently enough to meet program requirements.
The Disability Determination Process To Qualify For Benefits For Hip Fracture Disability
The evaluation process for disability claims for hip fractures focuses on the medical evidence supporting your application. It must show that your medical condition prevents you from working. One method used during the process is the Listing of Impairments.
The SSA lists medical conditions considered severe enough to meet the definition of disability. Each listing has symptoms that you must meet to qualify for benefits. For instance, listing 1.22, non-healing or complex fracture of the femur, requires evidence that imaging does not show a solid union of the bone, combined with physical limitation that has lasted for at least 12 months and the need for a walker or other assistive device requiring use of two hands for mobility. Your claim may be processed using a listing for complications arising from surgery related to the fracture.
If you cannot qualify using the Listing of Impairments, you may be eligible for hip fracture disability benefits by proving you cannot do work you did in the past or other types of work available in the national or regional economy. GCC Law disability attorneys ensure that all medical evidence supporting your claim is available for consideration during the review process.
Learn More About Disability Claims For Hip Fractures And How GCC Law Makes A Difference
From the application preparation to the appeal process, the client-focused hip fracture disability attorneys at GCC Law make a difference with knowledge, skill, and an unsurpassed commitment to winning. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation to learn what GCC Law can do for you.
Medical Conditions Listed for Disability Benefits:
Call Our Illinois Hip Fracture Disability Lawyers Today
At GCC Law Firm, our Illinois Hip Fracture 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.