Adults may sometimes become unable to work due to worsening or acquired medical conditions. They may need disability benefits to pay for their basic expenses.
Some people qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits by having a qualifying diagnosis. The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides a lengthy list of multiple medical conditions that may make an individual eligible for SSDI benefits.
Generally speaking, only medical conditions that last 12 months or longer and that have verifiable, debilitating consequences qualify applicants for SSDI benefits. Paraplegia or total paralysis of the lower extremities can occur due to physical trauma or illness that damages the spinal cord. Do those dealing with paraplegia qualify for SSDI benefits?
Paraplegia often makes people eligible for SSDI
Technically, paraplegia could qualify as a debilitating medical condition under the rules for either musculoskeletal disorders or neurological conditions, which include spinal cord disorders. The inability to use extremities, combined with the impact on the affected body parts, can cause persistent medical complications for otherwise healthy individuals. There are also the functional limitations of the injury to consider.
Paraplegia caused by a spinal cord injury is often a permanent condition, as medical professionals cannot repair a severed spinal cord. Symptoms are likely to persist for the rest of the person’s life, and they are at risk of secondary medical complications caused by muscle atrophy, blood pooling and other issues related to lower-extremity paralysis.
People living with debilitating medical conditions who hope to apply for SSDI benefits may want to work with an experienced attorney. Appropriate legal guidance can make a major difference for those who cannot work due to debilitating medical conditions.
