Obesity is quickly becoming an alarming problem in our country. Some of those affected are experiencing not only health issues with their high weight but are losing the ability to effectively earn a living. When they can’t work, they may wish to turn to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for support.
However, it’s not always as easy to secure these payments as when you have a specific injury that keeps you from working. An experienced Social Security Disability lawyer can help you understand what to know when filing for Social Security Disability due to obesity.
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Understanding More About Obesity and Disability
Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, with over 40 qualifying as severe obesity. The United States Surgeon General has recently declared obesity an epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that almost 42% of American adults are obese as of the most recent reporting year.
While it has a wide range of causes, obesity definitely has a significant effect on your health, especially if you have other medical issues. Obesity is often related to arthritis, diabetes, heart conditions, and sleep apnea.
It can also make it more difficult to exercise or take measures to reduce weight if you are experiencing respiratory or circulatory problems. Finally, patients often suffer depression and other mental impairments, leading them to feel hopeless about keeping a job.
Can You Get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits for Being Overweight?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses specific rulings to evaluate obesity cases. On its own, your obesity may not be reason enough for you to qualify for SSDI benefits unless you are so heavy that you have difficulty moving, walking, lifting, and performing other functional activities.
If your obesity diagnosis and its impact are not enough to qualify you for Social Security benefits, the combination of obesity with other illnesses may significantly reduce your ability to work. You will need to provide medical documentation and reports showing how your weight has brought on additional diseases that prevent you from working and qualify as one of the SSA’s disabling conditions.
Presenting the right medical support and evidence for your claim is complicated, requiring the understanding and knowledge of a reputable attorney who focuses on Social Security Disability claims.
Documentation You’ll Need for Your SSDI Application Based on Obesity
When applying for SSDI benefits for obesity, you’ll need to provide a substantial amount of documentation. One of the main reasons over 67% of disability claims are denied is due to missing or insufficient information. Your SSDI attorney can ensure you have the right information, including:
- Names and locations of all of the medical providers treating you for obesity
- Medical records from all your doctor’s office visits
- Information on treatment efforts, including physical therapy and surgeries
- Your other medical conditions and documentation for them
- Test results used by your physicians to diagnose your obesity
Your application for SSDI benefits will also require details about your job training, skills, work history, and experience. You may need to provide an assessment by an occupational therapist to support your claim that you are unable to perform work-related functions at your job.
If your obestity limits you from performing these actions, the SSA may award benefits based solely on those grounds. However, it will always help your chances if you present information about any related diagnoses to bolster your claim.
Important Things to Know About Filing an SSDI Claim Based on Obesity
Before you file your claim for SSDI benefits based on obesity, there are some critical things you should know, including:
Forget Outdated Myths About Obesity
You won’t be held responsible for your obesity-related health conditions and denied benefits because of outdated notions that you are in control of your weight problem. Social Security is progressive enough to realize that obesity is a chronic disease with complex causes. The agency recognizes that people who suffer from the problem aren’t simply unmotivated overeaters who don’t “want” to lose weight.
You Should Make an Effort to Control Weight
Even though the SSA understands that it’s not one cause for obesity, they do want evidence that you taking steps to control your weight. You should try standard, medically-recommended measures such as diet management, exercise, and medication. Keeping a food journal and tracking your workouts, along with prescription records, can show you are following doctor’s orders.
That doesn’t mean the SSA expects you to stop your weight problem. Realistically, the administration recognizes that the goal is to manage the condition and keep it from getting worse.
Obesity Is Just One of Many Factors
Prior to 1999, obesity by itself was automatically considered a disabling condition. Until then, all you had to do in order to qualify for SSDI benefits based on obesity was meet the definition of “morbidly obese” based on your height, weight, and body fat in order to be approved.
Now, SSA looks instead at what obesity does to your body as a whole. What other conditions does it cause? What other conditions does it aggravate? Your overall health and the effect obesity has on it are part of their review for your application.
Be Thorough in Your Application
To increase the chance of a successful claim, it’s vital that you list all of the conditions that are either caused by or aggravated by your obesity on your application. The SSA will not simply pick up on the other conditions in your medical records and consider them unless you specifically list them as a problem.
In other words, if your obesity has led to breathing problems and sleep apnea, you need to list those as additional disabling conditions. If your obesity aggravates your arthritis pain or contributes to your depression, you need to list both arthritis pain and depression as separate disabling conditions when you file.
If you’re having trouble getting approved for disability benefits based on obesity, consider asking a Social Security disability attorney for assistance.
Contact Krasno, Krasno & Onwudinjo to Learn More Today
If you are unsure of whether you may qualify for SSDI benefits for obesity or any other disabling conditions, contact the firm of Krasno, Krasno & Onwudinjo to speak with a reputable and compassionate Social Security Disability lawyer. We offer free case evaluations to discuss your circumstances and help you make the right decision for your needs.
Use our online form to schedule your free consultation today.