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Do Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits?

By February 28, 2021 No Comments

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have been all over the news in the last five years—in large part due to their prevalence among NFL players. However, TBIs happen for a variety of reasons – whether related to a workplace accident, auto accident, serious fall, or other circumstance. These injuries can severely impact many aspects of your life, including your ability to work. It leads many to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) as an option to help with monthly costs of living.

So do TBIs qualify for SSDI? If they are severe enough to prevent you from working full-time, they can. We’ll help you understand how TBIs can qualify as a disability as described by the Social Security Administration (SSA)

Types & Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries

In October 2016, TBIs were given their own designation on the SSA’s official disability and impairment list. You do not need to meet these criteria to be considered disabled, but if you do, you automatically qualify. According to the SSA, the TBI must cause:

A. Disorganization of motor function in two extremities, resulting in an extreme limitation in the ability to stand up from a seated position, balance while standing or walking, or use the upper extremities, persisting for at least 3 consecutive months after the injury.

OR

B. Marked limitation in physical functioning, and in one of the following areas of mental functioning, persisting for at least 3 consecutive months after the injury:

  1. Understanding, remembering, or applying information; or
  2. Interacting with others; or
  3. Concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace; or
  4. Adapting or managing oneself

These injuries could include a severe concussion, skull fracture, hematoma, or more. The impacts are far-reaching and any one of these could dramatically impair your ability to work — let alone when considered that oftentimes more than one symptom appears.

Proving & Supporting Your TBI Disability Claim

Of course, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is famously strict about approving individuals for benefits. To maximize your chances of a successful claim, you must provide all the documentation you have for your condition, from your initial diagnosis and lab results to treatment programs, work trials, and a medical report from your doctor. The SSA will evaluate the specifics of your condition to assess your ability to work.

Social Security Disability Attorneys for Individuals With TBIs

At Drew L. Johnson, P.C. Attorneys at Law, we know just how frustrating it can be to have an injury that prevents you from being able to work. We’ve dedicated our careers to helping Eugene and Albany qualify for appropriate SSDI or SSI benefits for their injuries. We’ll help you navigate the application process from start to finish so you can get the financial support you need to live a happy and healthy life. Call (541) 434-6466 today to schedule a free initial consultation for your claim.