Social Security Disability Benefits for Diabetics
Diabetes is the name of a group of conditions in which there is too much glucose in the body. A diabetes diagnosis requires daily self-care and may be managed with a healthy diet and medication. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have significant impacts on the entire body. When the symptoms of diabetes cannot be managed it may lead to serious consequences such as high blood pressure, eye damage or blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, and depression.
A well-managed diabetes condition alone will not meet the criteria for Social Security Disability benefits. In fact, Social Security Administration (SSA) removed the listing for diabetes in the Listings of Impairments. To qualify for benefits a person with uncontrolled diabetes must show that their symptoms severely limits their abilities; more specifically, that they are unable or will become unable to work for a period of time greater than one year.
Qualifying for Benefits
As noted previously, uncontrolled diabetes can result in other severe conditions. Since there is no longer a listing for diabetes by the SSA, a person may meet criteria for a separate condition, that is a result of their disorder. When applying for disability benefits it is vital for those with diabetes to provide medical documentation for all of their symptoms and conditions.
Some of the common conditions that a person with diabetes may be suffering from, and may qualify them for benefits, include amputation of an extremity, cardiovascular problems, diabetic peripheral neuropathies, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and poorly healing skin and bacterial infections. With all the above listed conditions a person must demonstrate their symptoms greatly impair their ability to maintain gainful employment in order to meet the criteria to be approved for benefits.
It can be difficult to determine if a person is a candidate for disability benefits.
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