Qualifying for Social Security Disability After a Spinal Cord Injury

If you or someone you love has experienced a spinal cord injury (SCI), you may be unable to work for an extended period of time. If you’ll be out of a job for over one year due a SCI, you could be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers monthly financial payments for people in need while they’re unable to earn a gainful living.

Three Months and Social Security Approval

Before you apply for Social Security disability benefits, it’s important to note that the SSA looks for applicants who were involved in some kind of accident more than three months prior to applying and still have symptoms or complications that prevent them from working.

This means that if your SCI was recent, you should hold off on applying for three months regardless of your prognosis. Applying early could lead to an unnecessary denial and additional months of waiting for paperwork to be reprocessed. 

Medically Qualifying After a SCI

The SSA utilizes its own medical criteria for qualification, known colloquially as the Blue Book, when evaluating all Social Security applicants. SCIs are listed under Section 11.08 of the Blue Book—Spinal cord disorders. Under this listing, there are three ways to qualify:

• You have a “complete loss of function” of the affected area. This means you cannot feel or move your legs, arms, or a combination of both.

• You have severely limited mobility in two limbs which leaves you unable to do any one of the following:

  • Stand from a seated position

  • Balance while standing or walking

  • Walking without aid from a person or mobility device

• You have notable limitation in your mobility but you’re still able to stand from a seated position or walk. In addition to your limited mobility, you have difficulty with one of the following areas of function:

  • Understanding and applying learned information

  • Interacting with others (in a workplace)

  • Concentrating and finishing tasks

  • “Adapting or managing” yourself, which essentially means controlling your emotions at work

The entire Blue Book can be found online on the SSA’s website, so you can always review the spinal cord disorder listing with your doctor or physical therapist to determine if you qualify.

Starting Your Social Security Application

The easiest way to apply for disability benefits is online on the SSA’s website. You can even save your application progress to be completed at a later date. If you’re unable to type, a family member can complete the application on your behalf.

If you’d prefer, you can also apply in person at your closest Social Security office. Just be sure to not “drop in”—you’ll need to make an appointment first! You can do so by calling the SSA toll free at 1-800-772-1213.

It typically takes claims three to five months to be approved. Once you’re enrolled onto disability benefits you’ll be able to spend your payments on rehabilitation costs or medical bills, hospital co-pays, rent or a mortgage, utility bills, or any other daily living needs.

Resources Found Via:

• https://www.ssa.gov

• https://www.disabilitybenefitscenter.org/glossary/blue-book

• https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/11.00-Neurological-Adult.htm#11_08

• https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm

• https://www.disabilitybenefitscenter.org/state-social-security-disability

• https://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/

Pursuing Disability Employment Without Fear

NextStep takes pride in our mission to ensure an improved quality-of-life and a continuum of care for the paralysis population. Our activity-based therapies are proven to lead to functional recovery, more independence, and opportunities in the community.

Employment is an important next step towards independence but for many it comes with fear of losing vital state and federal benefits such as Medicaid and long-term caregiving. We are happy to share a helpful resource for the NextStep community to approach disability employment with confidence and to not feel alone as a navigate employment.

Josh Basile, a C4-5 quadriplegic and attorney, has formed WillingtoWorkUSA.com to provide FREE one-on-one job mentoring and disability employment benefits counseling. In 2005 Josh was paralyzed at the age of 18 and has gone on to mentor thousands of paralysis families through his SPINALpedia.com website.

During his own unique disability employment journey, he learned the ins and outs of preparing for work, finding work, and maintaining work. He is a medical malpractice and catastrophic injury attorney living in the community with caregiving funded by his state’s Medicaid program. Josh would like to help you navigate your states disability employment programs and answer any questions you may have.

If you would like to receive FREE job mentoring and or information on free disability employment benefits counseling, please email me at josh.basile@gmail.com.

Take the #2900Challenge

You may have seen some of the #2900Challenge posts floating around on social media from our incredible NextStep staff and friends. If not, don’t worry! Now is the perfect time to join the fun.

Here’s the deal.

For each mile Janne travels a day, our NextStep Fitness trainers are doing an equivalent number of an exercise that day. 43 miles = 43 jumping jacks

Follow #2900Challenge on Instagram for the daily rep.

Burpees and squats not your thing? That’s okay! Create your own #2900Challenge like our pal Robby in the video above.

1. Create a donation page

2. Share your challenge on social media using #2900Challenge and #RideforParalysis

3. Challenge your friends and be part of this awesome movement to support Janne and his journey!

But wait, there’s more! Prizes will be awarded for the following categories:
Most Creative Challenge
Most Challenging Challenge
Challenge Post with the Most Engagement