When you suffer an amputation, you may have a long recovery period. During that time, you may not be able to return to work or may have trouble doing the work you did in the past.
In some cases, you may be able to seek Social Security Disability Insurance benefits to help you cover your financial needs after suffering from an amputation.
Amputations are included in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book
Amputations are sometimes enough to qualify for SSDI. However, it’s important that you are able to prove that this amputation has made it impossible for you to work or has significantly limited your options to provide an income for yourself.
You will find information about amputations in section 1.20 under musculoskeletal disorders in the Part A Adult Listings Blue book.
How do you qualify for Social Security Disability with an amputation?
To qualify for SSDI with an amputation, you will need to show that:
- You have a hemipelvectomy or hip disarticulation or amputation of both upper extremes above the wrists and including or up to the shoulders
- The amputation of one upper extremity and of one lower extremity as well as additional documentation of a medical need, like crutches or a mobility device, and recognized inability to use the remaining upper extremity to do work with fine/gross motor skills
- The amputation of both or a single lower extremity with complications that will last at least 12 months as well as documented medical needs and an inability to use prosthetics
There are additional qualifiers that you should look at in this section of the book as well.
Since everyone has slightly different amputations, complications and medical needs, it may not be easy to determine if you’ll be able to qualify for Social Security Disability. However, if you would like to seek it out, you do have a right to discuss your claim with a legal professional and to learn more about how to get your claim approved. If you have made an SSDI claim that has been denied, then you may want to look into getting support to appeal that decision by the Social Security Administration.