Amputation Disability Benefits in Michigan & Ohio
Moving through the world without a limb is a challenge most people simply can’t understand.
And if you needed an amputation that now makes it impossible for you to keep working, the stress of re-learning how to navigate the physical world is just the beginning. It’s financially devastating, too.
Social Security recognizes amputations, regardless of the cause, as an eligible reason to collect disability benefits that can make your life easier.
Making your case, however, isn’t simple. Social Security will want proof that you can’t do your job—or any job. That comes down to a lot of paperwork and collecting information. Most disability benefits applications, in fact, are rejected.
If you’re applying for the first time or looking to appeal a denial, an experienced disability lawyer can make a major difference for you.
At the Levine Benjamin Law Firm, our Michigan and Ohio disability attorneys know the ins and outs of Social Security and can get you through the process.
We’ve helped over 80,000 people, including those whose lives have been altered by amputations.
From applying to appealing, we help you every step of the way.
Types of Social Security Disability Benefits for Amputations
Many illnesses or injuries can cause an amputation. When you lose a limb, you can also lose your job.
In cases where you have worked and paid into Social Security for a number of years, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits providing monthly checks and Medicare access.
In cases where you have never been able to work much, you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) including monthly checks and Medicaid. You will need to show you have limited economic resources as part of the SSI requirements.
How you qualify depends on the severity of your amputation. Social Security has guidelines that you must meet to receive disability benefits. These are:
- The loss of both hands or hands and arms at any point from the wrist to the shoulder
- A hemipelvectomy, which is the removal of a leg and part of the pelvis
- Hip disarticulation, or the removal of a leg from the hip joint
- An amputation of an upper limb at the wrist and above AND the loss of a lower limb at or above the ankle
OR
In the latter case, you’ll also need to show you need a device that helps you move and requires the use of at least one hand or show that you can’t use your existing hand or arm to complete work-related activities.
Don’t worry if your amputation doesn’t neatly match these situations. It is still possible to qualify for disability benefits if you can show how your missing limb keeps you from working.
At Levine Benjamin, we sit down with residents of Michigan and Ohio every day to hear their stories and build their cases for Social Security Disability. If you have questions about your eligibility, contact us. An initial consultation comes at no cost to you.
How Do I Prove My Amputation Qualifies for Social Security
Social Security doesn’t question how you lost a limb. It only wants proof that the loss impacts your ability to earn a living.
Many people with an amputation can work, depending on the types of work they’re trained to do. Assistive devices can help. So disability benefit evaluations are done on a case-by-case basis.
To start, you will need to collect all your medical records and your doctor’s reports on how an amputation has impaired your life. Social Security will want to assess how you use prosthetics or mobility devices and whether they allow you to work.
To have a qualifying disability, you must show Social Security that your amputation:
- Keeps you from earning a livable wage, known as “substantial gainful activity”
- Will keep you from working for at least a year
- Prevents you from adapting to different jobs from what you’ve done before
It’s also possible to qualify for disability benefits if Social Security recognizes the cause of your amputation is eligible for financial relief.
The injury or disease that led to your amputation may be stopping you from working because of other symptoms, too, and that should be part of your disability claim.
Again, your medical history and your doctor’s assessment will be essential to proving your case.
Working with a disability attorney can improve your chances when dealing with Social Security.
The Levine Benjamin disability law firm in Detroit secures more Social Security Disability benefits for people than any other law firm in Michigan. People in Ohio work with us, too.
We help people in Flint, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Toledo, Traverse City, the Upper Peninsula, and, in fact, all over the country.
After an amputation changed everything, let us help you get to a stable place with your finances through disability benefits and reclaim your life.