Can I qualify for SSDI because of my back pain?

It should come as no surprise to readers that back pain is among the most common health complaints in the United States. According to some estimates, nearly 80 percent of Americans suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. The causes and severity of back pain, of course, can vary widely, involving everything from some tight muscles to slipped discs, spinal stenosis and other serious conditions requiring surgical intervention.

In cases of serious back injury, the pain can become so bad that it prevents one from going about daily life, including work. When this happens, it is important to understand available options in terms of income. For some, disability benefits provided by an employer or through a private plan may be available, at least for a time, but for those who do not have these benefits or who are inadequately covered, it may be necessary to look into Social Security disability benefits.

There are two ways one can qualify for Social Security disability benefits based on a back injury or back impairment. The first is by providing adequate evidence to satisfy the conditions laid out for a particular entry in the agency’s official listing of impairments. To qualify this way, one must provide reliable medical documentation of the condition. For many of those with back impairments, this is not an easy way to qualify.

Another way to qualify is to obtain a Medical Vocational Allowance, which is basically a determination that, although the applicant does not meet the conditions of a listing, they are still considered disabled because of a combination of their age, work experience, inability to work, and other factors. In some cases, folks can qualify this way in consideration of multiple impairments, among which persistent back pain may only be one factor.

Those who have questions about whether they might qualify for Social Security disability based on a back impairment can find this information on the Social Security Administration, or can contact an experienced SSDI attorney.

Source: Fox News, “A new approach to understanding back pain,” May 11, 2014.