The Social Security Administration understands how serious health conditions can be and that disabilities prevent millions of Americans from working. They have two programs in place, Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, and Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, to provide some financial relief to those who are out of work. To qualify for either program, applicants must prove that they are suffering from a debilitating condition that is expected to last at least a year, or end in death. The two programs are funded differently, and if an applicant does not qualify for SSDI, they may still qualify for SSI if they meet the proper criteria.
The differences between SSDI and SSI
Lymphedema victims may qualify for Social Security Disability
Lymphedema affects as many as 10 million Americans, more than all victims of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy, ALS and AIDS combined. It is not uncommon for lymphedema to occur following a surgery to remove lymph nodes, often done during treatments to fight cancer.
How brain injuries affect Americans
One of the most important organs in the human body is the brain. Due to its location on the human body however, this leaves the brain vulnerable to injury, especially after a slip and fall, being struck by an object, common in construction accidents and sports, or a car accident. It should then come as no surprise that traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs are among the most common injuries in America. According to statistics provided by the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention, TBIs account for nearly one third of all injury deaths in the United States.
The basics of schizophrenia
Many people have heard of the mental disorder schizophrenia, but unless you have or know someone with the condition, you may not know what it is or how it affects a victim. Schizophrenia typically starts to affect people between the ages of 16 and 30, though in rare cases children can experience it as well.
Those with CRPS or RSD could qualify for disability
There are a host of serious medical conditions that can prevent you from continuing to work. In some cases, these conditions are psychological. Severe depression, personality disorders and even post-traumatic stress from a work accident or assault could leave you unable to work.
