Disability

Key Facts

  • In evaluating disability claims, the US Social Security Administration (SSA) asks for information about the patient's medical condition and work and education history to determine if the patient is “disabled.”
  • You may need to help the patient in filling out forms.
  • Try to be specific as the information you provide can have an important impact in the SSA decision.

Many people diagnosed with PD may need the help of their clinician in addressing disability issues. Here you will find information that may be useful for you.

While the specific definition of “disability” for Social Security purposes is in the law itself, here is SSA’s plain language description:

“We consider you disabled under Social Security rules if, due to a medical or mental condition:

  • You cannot do work that you did before and we decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your condition(s), and
  • Your disability is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.”

There are two key sources of government paid (income) benefits for people with disabilities:

  • The first is Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), which “pays benefits to the patient and certain family members if he/she worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.”
  • The second is Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which “pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources.”

You may need to fill out some forms for your patient. Consider this information when filling out the forms.

Resources include: