Qualifying for Disability Benefits (SSDI) with Diabetes in New Jersey

Besides affecting diet and habits, the effects of Type I and Type II diabetes can manifest in other health problems, including amputation of toes and feet, vision loss, and damage to vital organs. People that suffer from diabetes and its related issues may be unable to work and earn a living. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) exists to provide benefits to people who are unable to work due to conditions and disabilities like diabetes.

If you want to know if you can qualify for SSDI benefits in New Jersey and how to apply for these benefits, call the East Brunswick, New Jersey social security disability lawyers at Young Marr & Associates at (215) 701-6519. We can help you file an application that is likely to meet the Social Security Administration’s stringent requirements.

Diabetes as Defined by the Social Security Administration

If you have diabetes and you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance, you will only qualify for benefits if your diabetes meet certain criteria decided upon by the Social Security Administration. The SSA uses a set of guidelines known as the Listing of Impairments (also commonly referred to as the “Blue Book”) to determine whether an SSDI applicant has a condition that is severe enough to qualify for benefits.

According to the Listing of Impairments, diabetes alone does not qualify an SSDI applicant for SSDI benefits. The issues related to diabetes, however, can qualify someone for these benefits. (Diabetes used to be in the Listing of Impairments, but it was removed in 2009.)

Conditions related to diabetes that qualify someone for SSDI benefits include amputation, bacterial infections, cardiovascular issues, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathies, diabetic retinopathy, hyperglycemia, and hypoglycemia. These conditions related to diabetes must severely hinder an applicant’s ability to generate an income through work.

How to Qualify for Social Security Benefits in New Jersey

Having diabetes-related conditions named in the Listing of Impairments is not enough to qualify an individual for SSDI benefits in New Jersey. To qualify for disability benefits, applicants must meet a few other requirements. Firstly, the condition that impairs them and keeps them from earning an income must have been present in their life for at least 12 consecutive months, be expected to last for 12 months into the future, or be expected to result in death.

Another requirement that applicants for SSDI benefits must meet is that the income they make must be below a certain limit. If someone earns an income that is determined to be “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) by the Social Security Administration, they will not qualify for benefits. In 2019, substantial gainful activity is any level of income that is above $1,220; substantial gainful activity is slightly higher for blind applicants at $2,040. Small business owners are subject to slightly different income limits.

New Jersey residents that are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits should note the difference between Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Though both are administered by the Social Security Administration, they differ in that Social Security Disability Insurance is for people that have already earned work credits while Supplemental Security Income is for people that have limited access to income. Some people may qualify for both SSDI and SSI.

Applying for SSDI Benefits for Diabetes in NJ

New Jersey residents who are unable to work due to their diabetes and its related issues can apply for SSDI benefits in one of three ways. They can either apply on the Social Security Administration’s website, by phone, or by visiting the SSA’s offices in person. Applicants should bring their birth certificate, Social Security Number, and all medical records that are relevant to their condition.

After applying for SSDI benefits, applicants should expect to wait between 3 and 5 months to get a response from the Social Security Administration. The SSA’s response will either let applicants know that they have been accepted, along with an award letter that tells them how much they can expect to receive, or it will let them know that they have been denied.

Individuals who apply for SSDI benefits should note that the denial of benefits happens much more frequently than acceptance; in fact, 70% of applications for SSDI benefits are denied. Most denials are issued because the applicant does not have a condition that is severe enough; other causes include too much income earned by the applicant and glaring technical errors on their application.

How a Social Security Disability Attorney Can Help You Win Your Claim

Hamilton Social Security disability attorneys can help New Jersey residents who apply for SSDI benefits by ensuring that applications contain the information that officials at the Social Security Administration are looking for. Social Security disability attorneys frequently improve applications that are being submitted for the first time. They can also help file appeals of benefit denials. Young Marr & Associates can be depended on to help clients file applications for SSDI benefits that have a high chance of being accepted.

Get in Touch with a New Jersey Social Security Disability Lawyer Today for Diabetes Benefits

Don’t allow your diabetes and its related issues to keep you from paying rent, buying groceries, and living a normal life. If you are a New Jersey resident with diabetes and would like to learn more about how you can get SSDI benefits, get in touch with the New Jersey Social Security disability attorneys at Young Marr & Associates. Call (215) 701-6519 today.