Qualifying for Disability Benefits with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition that affects your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). With MS, your immune system mistakenly attacks myelin cells. These are the protective covers that surround brain and spinal cord nerves. Myelin sheath damage interrupts signals that your nerves send throughout your body to perform functions like vision, sensation, and movement.
Symptoms of MS depend on the person, the location of damage in the nervous system, and how bad the damage is to the nerve fibers. Some people lose the ability to walk on their own or move at all, while others may have long periods between attacks without any new symptoms, called remission. The course of the disease varies depending on the type of MS.
There’s no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, there are treatments to help speed the recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease, and manage symptoms. To learn more about how the Social Security Administration (SSA) defines this disability, visit Section 11.00 of the Blue Book.
Does Multiple Sclerosis Qualify for Disability?
Yes, people with multiple sclerosis do qualify, but getting approved can be difficult. Corroborating a neurologist’s diagnosis of MS with a long-term record of symptoms and impairments provided by a primary care physician will greatly strengthen a case for disability benefits. Medical evidence that will strengthen an MS disability case includes:
- Proof of demyelination from a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Spinal tap that shows increased myelin basic proteins
- Evidence of slowed, garbled, or halted nerve impulses from Evoked Potential Tests including VEP, BAEP’S, and SSEP’S
The medical factors listed in the SSA’s Blue Book that are used by Disability Determination Services (DDS) to decide whether to award Social Security disability benefits to individuals with MS include:
- Visual impairment;
- Mental impairment involving behavioral and psychological abnormalities manifested by the presence of certain mental disorders;
- Persistent motor function disorganization in the form of paralysis or paresis, ataxia, tremor, and sensory disturbances that may occur in different combinations; and
- Significant motor function fatigue with considerable muscle weakness particularly when performing repetitive activities.
How Do I Apply for Disability Benefits?
To apply for disability benefits, it’s important to understand the disability application process. If you’ve been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and believe you may qualify, contact us today for a free disability case evaluation.
