The Social Security Administration recognizes certain physical and mental impairments that prevent people from working and supporting themselves. People who have those impairments are eligible and can apply for Social Security disability benefits – though there is no guarantee that by applying you will automatically receive them. However, if you suffer from certain neurological conditions and have the right documentation form your doctor, you can apply for benefits with the help of one of our Philadelphia Social Security Disability lawyers at Larry Pitt & Associates.
What are neurological disorders?
Unlike mental impairments, such as schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder, neurological disorders are those where the brains ability to function has been compromised because of a physical trauma, an illness, a congenital or genetic defect or any other non-personality relate issue. In short, neurological disorders affect a person’s brain physical, which in turn affects how a person’s body functions.
Which neurological disorders are accepted by the SSA?
The SSA website lists a number of acceptable neurological conditions for adults seeking Social Security disability:
- Seizure disorders, specifically convulsive (grand mal or psychomotor) and nonconvulsive (petit mal, psychomotor, or focal) epilepsies.
- Central nervous system vascular accidents affecting speech, communications and motor skills
- Benign brain tumors
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cerebral Palsy, as long as the CP is severe enough to affect a person’s motor skills, IQ or behavior patterns
- Spinal cord or nerve root lesions caused by literally anything
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease
- Polio
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Nerve damage
- Subacute combined cord degeneration (pernicious anemia), also called Lichtheim’s disease
- Degenerative diseases that do not fall under other categories, like Huntington’s Chorea, Friedreich’s ataxia, and spino-cerebellar degeneration
- Traumatic brain injuries or brain damage
- Spinal cysts caused by syringomyelia disorder
The regulations for children are somewhat different, as their brains and bodies are still developing. If you child suffers from “major motor seizure disorder[s], nonconvulsive epilepsy, brain tumors, motor dysfunction (due to any neurological disorder), Cerebral Palsy, meningomyelocele (and related disorders) [or] communication impairment associated with documented neurological disorder[s],” he or she may be eligible for benefits.
If you or your child suffers from a neurological impairment that makes it impossible for you to support your family, you may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. Please contact the law office of Larry Pitt & Associates to find out how our Social Security disability lawyers can help you. We maintain 6 offices throughout Pennsylvania to serve our clients in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.
