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Blindness and Supplemental Security Income

On Behalf of | Mar 6, 2015 | Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

 

Most people would probably consider blindness to be a disability. Obviously it would be quite difficult to do the vast majority of jobs if a person can’t see. However, what many people don’t know is that when someone is suffering from blindness they might actually qualify for Supplemental Security Income.

But what level of blindness does it take to qualify for SSI benefits? There are many different forms of blindness, caused by a variety of different conditions in a person’s eyes. For instance, a cataract can lead to blindness if it gets progressively worse. Or, glaucoma could lead to blindness as well. But, a person may not be completely blind – they may be able to see shapes or shadows. Does that qualify as “blindness” for the purposes of SSI-related benefits?

The answer is “maybe.” When a Los Angeles resident is applying for SSI benefits it is extremely important to include as many details as possible about the opinions of the medical professionals who diagnosed the blindness. For the purposes of the Social Security Administration, the term “legal blindness” can be very important. If a person is determined to be legally blind, that could be enough in terms of meeting the requirements.

Supplemental Security Income is intended to help Americans who cannot make ends meet through their assets and minimal income alone. This monthly benefit, which could be up to around $1,000, depending on the circumstances, can go a long way in helping a Los Angeles resident with paying for necessities and medical expenses.

Source: www.cdc.gov, “Blindness and Vision Impairment,” accessed on March 1, 2015

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