You may need extensive medical care if you are diagnosed with diabetes. In some cases, the effects of diabetes on your body may prevent you from working. You may wish to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in this situation.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) must approve your claim before you receive disability benefits. If the SSA denied your claim, you may be able to get help appealing their decision from the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Contact us today by calling (800) 794-0444. A Los Angeles diabetes attorney may be able to help you.
Learn More About the Impact of Diabetes on Your Health
Individuals who have diabetes have improperly regulated blood sugar – or blood glucose – levels. Generally, these issues with blood sugar are tied to the way the body uses or produces the hormone insulin. You may require extensive medical care if you are diagnosed with:
Type 1 Diabetes
If you have type 1 diabetes, your body simply cannot produce insulin. You may have heard type 1 diabetes called “juvenile diabetes” in the past. Individuals with type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections throughout their lives. This form of diabetes was sometimes also called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the past.
Type 2 Diabetes
Your body may produce insulin if you have type 2 diabetes. However, body systems do not utilize insulin properly if you have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes may be controlled through lifestyle changes in some situations. You may hear type 2 diabetes sometimes called:
- Adult-onset diabetes mellitus
- Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
The Side Effects of Diabetes May Cause a Disability
The condition of diabetes itself may not be considered disabling in all situations by the SSA. In fact, many people who have diabetes – which is an endocrine disorder – are able to manage their condition by taking insulin, monitoring their diet, and increasing their physical activity. If your diabetes is manageable and you are able to work, you may not qualify for SSDI benefits.
However, diabetes may sometimes lead to serious side effects that could prevent you from working. You may require extensive medical treatment to handle diabetic side-effects such as:
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
Individuals who are severely insulin deficient may experience DKA. This condition could be life-threatening and it generally requires hospitalization to resolve. DKA may have side-effects of its own, which may prevent you from working, including:
- Cardiac arrythmias
- Intestinal necrosis
- Cerebral edema
- Seizures
Chronic Hyperglycemia
Sometimes, poorly managed diabetes may leave you with dangerously elevated blood glucose levels for an extended amount of time. This condition may impact the way your blood vessels and nerves function. Some individuals with chronic hyperglycemia may even end up losing their extremities through amputations.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a medical term used to refer to low blood sugar. You may be able to prevent a hypoglycemic incident by consuming food. However, individuals who do not take this step could pass out and fall unconscious.
For a free legal consultation with a Diabetes Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
Eligibly for SSDI Benefits for Diabetes
As we mentioned, you may not be eligible to receive SSDI benefits just because you are diagnosed with diabetes. In fact, you may only qualify for benefits by demonstrating that your condition prevents you from working.
Your lawyer may go over your medical records to gather evidence related to the severity of your condition. Note that a lawyer cannot diagnose your condition. You must visit a doctor, get a diagnosis, and go through with medical treatment to qualify for SSDI benefits in California.
You may be eligible for benefits if the side-effects of your diabetes prevent you from working for a period of at least one year. Generally, you must be unable to work for at least five months before you are able to apply for SSDI disability benefits. You may qualify for short-term disability benefits through your employer’s insurance if your disability does not last longer than five months.
Contact a Los Angeles diabetes lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now to begin an appeal for your SSDI benefits in California.
Los Angeles Diabetes Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Benefits Available Through SSDI Coverage
SSDI disability benefits are designed to replace a percentage of your wages while you are unable to work in California. They do not provide 100% of your wages. Instead, you may get a percentage of your average wage while you are receiving SSDI benefits.
Note that SSDI benefits are funded through payroll taxes. This means that you may only be eligible to receive SSDI disability benefits if you worked a job that required you to pay into the SSA. If you did not work long enough or in eligible jobs, you may not be able to get SSDI benefits regardless of the severity of your condition.
However, you may be eligible to receive different benefits, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI benefits are not tied to payroll taxes. Instead, they are based on your level of financial need. You may qualify for SSI benefits if you have a very low level of resources at your disposal. In some cases, you could qualify for both SSDI and SSI benefits here in Los Angeles.
You may be able to secure benefits if you are unable to work due to the effects of diabetes on your health. A lawyer may be able to help you if the SSA denied your initial benefits application. We understand what it takes to handle tough appeals and our team may be able to start working on your case right away.
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Get Help from a Los Angeles Diabetes Attorney
You may be able to appeal an initial denial for SSDI benefits if you were diagnosed with diabetes in Los Angeles. Find out more about your options with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Begin working on your appeal with a Los Angeles diabetes lawyer today. You may contact us to get a free consultation about your case.
Find out how we could help by calling (800) 794-0444 or filling out our online contact form.
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