Severe chronic pain can be incredibly debilitating, making it difficult or impossible to maintain gainful employment. If your chronic pain prevents you from working, you may qualify for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits. However, the application process can be complicated, especially when your primary impairment is pain-related.
The legal team at Phillip M. Hendry Attorney at Law knows how chronic pain can disrupt one's life. Our knowledgeable Louisiana disability lawyer can provide the guidance and advocacy you need to pursue the benefits you deserve. Here’s what you need to know.
SSDI Eligibility Criteria for Chronic Pain
Chronic pain itself is not a medically determinable impairment. In order to qualify for SSDI based on chronic pain, you must demonstrate that:
- Your pain has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months
- Your chronic pain significantly limits your ability to perform basic work activities
- You are unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to your impairment
How the SSA Evaluates Chronic Pain Claims
The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a five-step sequential evaluation process to determine SSDI eligibility:
- Are you working and earning above substantial gainful activity (SGA) levels? If yes, your claim will be denied. If no, the evaluation proceeds.
- Is your chronic pain severe enough to significantly limit your ability to perform basic work-related activities? If yes, the process continues. If no, your claim will be denied.
- Does your chronic pain meet or equal a listed impairment in the SSA's Blue Book? If yes, your claim will be approved. If not, the assessment proceeds.
- Can you still perform your past relevant work despite your chronic pain? If no, the evaluation advances. If yes, your claim will be denied.
- Based on your age, education, work experience, and residual functional capacity (RFC), can you perform any other work in the national economy? If yes, your claim will be denied. If no, your claim will be approved.
Challenges in Proving Chronic Pain for SSDI
Chronic pain can be challenging to prove because it is subjective and may not always have clear, observable causes. Some common conditions that can lead to disabling chronic pain include:
- Fibromyalgia
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Chronic migraines
- Back pain from herniated discs or spinal stenosis
- Neuropathic pain from diabetes or other nerve damage
To strengthen your case, it's essential to have detailed medical records documenting your pain, its impact on your daily activities, and any treatments you've tried. A Louisiana SSDI lawyer can help you gather and present this evidence effectively.
Required Medical Evidence for SSDI Chronic Pain Claims
To prove your chronic pain is disabling, you'll need to provide extensive medical documentation, including:
- Detailed physician notes describing your pain, its location, frequency, and severity
- Diagnostic imaging results (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans)
- Laboratory findings related to your condition
- Treatment records showing medications, therapies, and other interventions tried
- Statements from treating doctors attesting to your pain-related limitations
Your Louisiana SSDI lawyer can help you gather the necessary evidence to support your claim and present it effectively to the SSA.
How a Louisiana Disability Attorney Can Help
The SSDI application process can be daunting, particularly when you're dealing with chronic pain. An experienced Louisiana disability attorney can:
- Evaluate your case and determine your eligibility for SSDI benefits
- Guide you through the complex application process, ensuring accuracy and completeness
- Help you obtain the required medical evidence to substantiate your claim
- Represent you in appeals if your initial application is denied
- Advocate for your rights throughout the process, fighting for the benefits you need and deserve
Having a skilled SSDI attorney on your side can significantly increase your chances of approval. A study by the Government Accountability Office found that claimants who had legal representation at their disability hearings were nearly three times more likely to be approved than those without representation.
Your Louisiana SSDI lawyer can help you present the strongest possible case, highlighting the severity of your chronic pain and its impact on your ability to work. They can also help you with the appeals process if your initial claim is denied.
Don't let chronic pain keep you from the financial support you need. If you're unable to work due to severe, ongoing pain, consult with a skilled Louisiana SSDI lawyer to discuss your eligibility and begin the application process today. With the right legal guidance and advocacy, you can pursue the benefits you deserve and focus on managing your health.