Houston Social Security Disability Law Blog

Most Houston residents who are wondering about obtaining Social Security disability benefits pay most of their attention to the nature of their illness or injury and its disabling effects. A third factor must also be considered -- whether the person has accumulated enough work credits to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

A person earns work credits by earning money in a job that is covered by the Social Security system. In 2019, a person receives one work credit for each $1,360 of covered earnings. The number of credits that can be earned in a single year is four, regardless of the person's total income. Thus, when a person has earned $5,440, he or she cannot earn any further credits in that calendar year. Work credits are permanent. The Social Security Administration maintains a record of every person's earnings and work credits. A person can leave and then return to a job covered by Social Security, and the number of accumulated work credits will be remain the same.

Lower back pain is one of the most common disabling conditions faced by Houston residents. People in all varieties of jobs can develop this condition, and if symptoms are sufficiently severe, spinal stenosis can interfere with a person's ability to work. People who suffer from stenosis may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits for injury if they meet the necessary federal requirements.

Spinal stenosis is a condition that occurs when the spinal canal narrows and the surrounding bones put pressure on the spinal cord and nearby nerve roots. The narrowing can cause pain or loss of sensation in the arms, lower back or legs. The narrowing can be the result of an injury or the normal aging of the spinal column.

Epilepsy is a neurological disease that is often misunderstood, partly because the symptoms and effects of the illness vary greatly in frequency and intensity. Epilepsy is usually defined as the result of abnormal activity in the brain. Symptoms can include temporary confusion, staring at a point or object, uncontrollable jerking of the arms and legs, loss of consciousness or awareness and psychic symptoms such as fear or anxiety. Residents of Houston who suffer from epilepsy are often uncertain if they are eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The standards for epilepsy are included in the Social Security Administration's "Listing of Impairments."

Because epileptic seizures are discrete occurrences, the Social Security Administration has established criteria for disability benefits based upon the frequency and intensity of the seizures. A person with a diagnosis of epilepsy must first meet the general standards for disability benefits. The disease must prevent a person from performing the ordinary tasks of a job or occupation. The disease must also be expected to last at least 12 months or to result in the death of the patient. Epilepsy is rarely fatal, and thus, disability eligibility depends upon the frequency of seizures over a specific time span.

Many people in Houston regard the process of applying for and obtaining Social Security disability benefits laborious and lengthy. While these feelings have some basis in fact, these same people are often unaware of the special Social Security program know by acronym "CAL." The letters stand for "Compassionate Allowance," which is a program that is intended to provide specialized handling for people whose medical condition is especially grave.

The Social Security Administration has identified a number of diseases with effects that largely mimic diseases that are commonly recognized as causing the degree of disability that is required to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. These illnesses comprise certain cancers, adult brain disorders and several disorders that mainly affect children. If an applicant for SSD benefits has a disease that is already on the SSA's list of CAL diseases, the application will receive expedited processing, and a quick decision will be made on whether the illness qualifies the victim for SSD benefits.