Does Social Security Disability Cover Hidden Disabilities?
You don’t need to receive social security benefits only for apparent disabilities. There are so many people suffering from hidden disabilities which affect their everyday lives in so many ways.
When you speak of hidden disabilities, it’s impairments that are not visible from the outside. So people suffering from them don’t even seem to have any disabilities.
For Common Hidden Disabilities
And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four Americans has a disability impairing a part of life. And as some disabilities are invisible, some don’t even know they have a disabling condition.
Here are four chronic hidden disabilities that show no signs on the outside.
1. Mental Health Conditions
People suffering from mental health conditions look ‘normal’ from the outside. However, it can be debilitating to their life because of the condition:
- Affects the victim’s behavior, thoughts, feelings, and mood
- Makes it difficult for the victim to relate to others
- Affects their everyday functions
- Makes concentrating, remembering, and deciding things difficult
Examples of mental health conditions many people silently suffer from include:
- Bipolar disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Depression
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Eating, dissociative, or anxiety disorders
2. Autoimmune Diseases
The human immune system protects the body from foreign particles like bacteria. However, the confused body of people with autoimmune diseases tends to attack healthy tissues and organs.
It’s because their immune system thinks that these body parts are foreign invaders. This attack may be on one body part or through the body. Examples of autoimmune diseases include:
- Celiac disease
- Type 1 diabetes
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Lupus
- Graves or Addison’s disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
No one knows the trigger for autoimmune diseases; genetics, diet, chemical exposure, and infections are possible causes. But they make life miserable because everyday tasks get exhausting or impossible.
Sometimes the condition flare-ups for no reason, and sometimes there are no outward signs.
3. Chronic Pain and Fatigue
Those suffering from chronic conditions like infections, severe illness, and chronic conditions suffer from chronic fatigue. Even medications, autoimmune diseases, sleep issues and more contribute to chronic pain and fatigue.
All this chronic pain and fatigue make it difficult for the patient to focus and work likes other people. Examples of such conditions are:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Chronic tension headaches
4. Neurological Disorders
Brain disorders affect the everyday life of millions of Americans every year. They are not visible outside, so you won’t even realize a person is suffering until you know them well. It’s because brain disorders affect their sleep, concentration, mood, and behavior.
Common neurological disorders include:
- Stroke
- Gaucher’s disease
- Cerebral palsy
- Huntington’s disease
- AIDS dementia
- Epilepsy
- Brain tumors
- Muscular dystrophy
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Brain tumor
- Any trauma like traumatic brain injuries
Additional Hidden Disabilities
The four categories mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many other hidden disabilities that affect life so much like:
- Heart or lung disease
- Hearing loss
- Cancers
- Back injuries
- Asthma
- Multiple chemical sensitivities
Your Glendale social security lawyer can help in proving hidden disabilities.
Though hidden disabilities aren’t visible, they are just as disabling as visible impairments. So you might be eligible for social security disability insurance if:
- Your condition prevents you from working.
- Your work wages have paid enough into social security
However, you need to prove that your condition prevents you from working. It’s more difficult proving hidden disabilities than visible ones.
This is where your social security attorney in Glendale can help.
Your attorney will advocate for your rights and help you through the application process.