Which Disability Benefits For Chronic Pain Do I Qualify For
When it comes to claiming long-term disability benefits for chronic pain in Canada, you might be eligible for one of two types of disability benefits for chronic pain: the Canada Pension Plan or long-term disability insurance.
CPP Disability Benefits for Chronic Pain
The CPP was designed to support Canadians after retirement and it also covers disability benefits that start once you become disabled and last until you are 65. After that, these disability benefits are converted into regular pensions.To be eligible for the CPP disability benefits, you are required to have worked for four out of the past six years and to have paid payroll taxes. The CPP requires you to prove that your disability is both prolonged and severe, leaving you unable to work.
Long-term Disability Benefits for Chronic Pain
Group disability insurance policies are the most common type of disability insurances available in Canada. If your employer has insured you as part of a group, you are receiving your disability insurance through your job. These group disability insurance policies provide both long-term and short-term disability benefits.If you are suffering from chronic pain, you can apply for the long-term disability benefits if eligible. If your application is approved, these benefits will provide you with monthly income payments during long absences from work in order to relieve some financial strain and pressure.
Getting Help With Your Chest Pain Ssd Application
When submitting an application for SSD benefits with any diagnosis, you should work closely with your doctor to ensure your records are detailed and that they accurately represent you medical condition and the limitations it causes in your daily life. Because chest pain can result from many different medical conditions, you will also want to consider seeking assistance with your application from a Social Security advocate or disability attorney.
An attorney can help you complete your application and any other required forms. He or she can also assist you in collecting the appropriate documentation for supporting your claim and can ensure you have the right medical tests and other procedures done to meet the criteria of a listed condition or otherwise prove your chest pain disables you.
How Can Chronic Pain Impact Your Ability To Work
Chronic pain can be very restricting in any work setting. It may impede your ability to lift objects and walk around if you have a physical job and even if you have a sedentary job, chronic pain can limit your ability to sit at a desk for a prolonged period of time. Further, persistent pain can be distracting and reduce your ability to focus on your work throughout an 8-hour workday, which could cause you to be unproductive for a substantial portion of the day.
Additionally, chronic pain is often extremely fatiguing and can disrupt your sleep this could cause you to need to take naps throughout the day. Typically, you would not be able to work reliably and consistently if you had extended periods of time in which you were unable to remain energized or perform any work activities or duties. Your chronic pain might also require you to take frequent breaks while performing activities, which are typically unacceptable in most jobs. Depending on the location and nature of your chronic pain, any job could become impossible. You should consider contacting an attorney if you are not sure if your chronic pain would qualify you for long-term disability benefits.
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Provincial Income Support Benefits
Each province in Canada pays income support benefits to people who cant work because of disability. If you qualify, you can receive fixed payments for life.
You can qualify for provincial benefits even if youve never worked however, they only apply if your total family income falls below a certain amount. This amount differs from province to province. Family income doesnt affect the approval process for other types of disability benefits.
You apply for provincial disability benefits by applying with your local agency or program. As usual, your doctor will need to provide a report or certificate confirming you are unable to work because of your medical condition.
For denials, you can appeal internally within the agency or program. In some provinces, you can also appeal to an outside tribunal for a final decision. Check with your province for the proper procedures.
Objective Signs Of A Back Problem
As previously mentioned, an objective evaluation by the SSA involves the ability to show a medically determinable impairment that is causing your back pain. If your back pain is being caused by a specific medical condition, you should submit the appropriate medical evidence such as:
- X-rays that show any fractured back bones
- CT scan that shows spinal defects such as stenosis
- MRI that demonstrates evidence of bone degeneration
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What Qualifies As Chronic Pain In A Disability Case
Chronic pain is different to immediate, acute pain in that it can last for weeks, months or even years. In fact, chronic pain can last a lifetime and present itself in any number of ways. When experiencing chronic pain, you may feel symptoms that range from sore joints to headaches or muscle aches and beyond.While Chronic Pain is now recognized as debilitating condition in itself, this serious and lasting medical issue can also be associated with a number of different disorders and diseases such as arthritis, gout, Crohns Disease, < a href=https://resolutelegal.wpengine.com/disability-claims-for-fibromyalgia/> fibromyalgia< /a> , carpal tunnel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and a number of neurological and spinal disorders as well as back and neck issues which may be related to an accident or physical trauma.In addition, chronic and uncontrolled pain can compromise the immune system and the healing process as well as promote tumour growth.
What Is Chronic Nerve Pain
Chronic nerve pain or neuropathic pain has no apparent cause. Some of the common issues that lead to chronic nerve pain are alcoholism, thyroid problems, amputation, multiple myeloma, multiple sclerosis, spine surgery, and other conditions that can cause harm to nerves.
Throughout this article, we are going to be covering a few different chronic nerve pain conditions that can become severe enough to prevent one from retaining employment those conditions being:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinsons
- Nerve damage
Working while experiencing different forms of chronic pain can be debilitating, but if youre able to handle the pain while working at your job, this article is NOT for you.
CPP Disability offers a safety net to disabled Canadians who can no longer work, so if your condition has worsened to the point where your doctor certifies that you can no longer work, you can then start the CPP disability application process.
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Is Arthritis In The Spine A Disability
Arthritis comes in several forms as many as 100 medical conditions fall under the label. Some, like rheumatoid arthritis, are autoimmune conditions. Arthritis is also an umbrella term for joint disorders.
Inflammatory arthritis in the joints, especially when its in the spine, can make mobility a near, if not a total, impossibility. If you are unable to work as a result of spinal arthritis, and it is unable to be remedied in 12 or more months, you may qualify for disability.
Some instances of spinal arthritis may be remedied through weight loss or treating a bacterial infection. Either way, if you think youre suffering from spinal arthritis its important to see a medical professional at your earliest convenience to get evaluated and diagnosed.
How Back Pain Qualifies For Disability
To qualify for disability benefits, the Social Security Administration looks at two things:
The SSA has a precise definition of disability. Generally, your condition must prevent you from working. It also must be severe. That includes limiting your ability to perform essential work like walking, standing, or lifting things for at least a year.
The SSA has a list of medical conditions that it will check to see if you qualify. If your condition is not on that list, theyll check if yours compares to something on that list. Musculoskeletal disorders, which can include the back, are included.
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Disability Benefits For Back Problems: The Ultimate Guide
Does your back pain prevent you from working? Do you struggle to perform everyday tasks and need to win disability benefits for back problems?
Insurance companies have a vast number of requirements to qualify for disability benefits for back problems. And, the long list of back problems can make diagnosis cloudy.
Back Pain Disability Benefits: The Ultimate Guide is full of insights and answers for people who need to win disability benefits for back pain and related problems. I cover the types of disability benefits available for back pain, the challenges you will face, and how you can overcome them.
What You Have To Prove To Win Benefits With Chronic Pain
In general, to qualify for benefits youll have to meet Social Securitys definition of disabled:
- Your health has forced you out of work.
- You cannot switch to a new line of work.
- You wont be able to return to work for at least a year.
But you cant just tell Social Security you have a disability. You must prove it, with copious medical evidence to back up your claim. Youll need documents like:
- Medical records of your ongoing treatment
- Lab test results
- Statements from your doctors, psychologist/psychiatrist and friends/coworkers/family
- Records of how chronic pain affects you daily life, such as journal entries
It all sounds overwhelming, doesnt it?
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We know the system, we know the people in it, and most importantly, we know how to give you the best chance to win.
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Insufficient Objective Evidence Of Disability
Although insurers often cite insufficient objective evidence of disability to deny claims, this reason doesnt work with back pain. This is because modern medicine has yet to find objective evidence of disability caused by pain.
If you receive this as a reason, address it in your appeal letter. Fortunately, objective evidence is not a requirement under most disability insurance policies and programs.
Your appeal letter should focus on how your doctor followed best practices for diagnosis and treatment. It should mention that you stuck to the recommended treatment. You should also emphasize all the things youve tried to stay at work.
How Do I Obtain Long Term Disability Benefits
The first thing you will have to do is speak with your employer or insurer so you can learn more about your plan. From here, you and your attorney will file an insurance claim within 180 days. In your claim, you must include various types of evidence that prove your medical condition significantly affects your daily life, thereby preventing you from returning to work for the foreseeable future. Some of the most useful forms of evidence are MRIs, x-rays, and especially doctors notes detailing exactly how your medical condition affects you on a daily basis.
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Is Chronic Pain A Disability
Empowering those in pain to qualify for & get the benefits they need
Alice has been struggling with inflammatory arthritis for years. Starting with occasional flare-ups, her discomfort has progressed to constant joint pain and chronic stiffness in her knees. Her frequent fatigue makes it difficult for her to work and keep up with social obligations.
Alice has visited several doctors and has medical records proving she has been suffering from a physical impairment for over a year. She knows thereâs a stigma revolving around disabilities in the U.S, which makes her a little reluctant to admit she may have a disability.
But sheâs also heard that her chronic pain may qualify her for SSI disability benefits. Is it worth the stigma as she works to overcome her discomfort?
Keep reading to learn the benefits of classifying your chronic pain as a disability in the U.S.
What Medical Conditions Qualify For Disability Benefits
Any medical condition can qualify for disability benefits. Generally speaking, most disability benefits programs in Canada do not give benefits based on a medical diagnosis. Rather, they provide benefits based on the level of disability caused by the medical condition. So the focus will always be on the level of disability caused by your medical condition, rather than only the name of your medical condition or diagnosis. To qualify for benefits, you must show that the level of disability from your medical condition meets the eligibility criteria of the disability benefits plan in question.
Following is a list of common medical conditions that qualify for disability benefits. For each of these conditions we discuss the unique challenges you will face.
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Disability Claims Focusing On Back Pain Often Come Down To Whether Your Complaints Of Pain Are Associated With Evidence Of An Impairment That Is Likely To Cause That Pain
Reviewed by Bethany K. Laurence, Attorney
Back pain can be caused by many different spinal conditions, many of which happen normally with age. Chronic conditions causing back pain include scoliosis and degenerative discs inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, arachnoiditis, and spondylitis and problems impacting nerves in the back: spinal stenosis, nerve root compression, herniated discs, and spondylolisthesis .
This article focuses on how Social Security views symptoms of pain and how the consistency between your medical records and your statements about your symptoms and pain can affect the success of your back disability claim.
Total Chiropractic Care Can Help You Manage Your Chronic Pain
Total Chiro is a facility that provides chiropractic care as well as physical therapy and lifestyle advice that could help you to alleviate your chronic pain. Contact us today and well work with you to find the best treatment for your needs. Dont wait to start your journey towards a more comfortable life.
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Chronic Pain And Depression
The relationship between depression and chronic pain and illness is well-documented. According to the American Chiropractic Association, between 30 and 80 percent of people with chronic pain also have depression, and the combination of illnesses can result in greater disability than either condition would cause on its own.
People with chronic pain live with changes to their body, mental state and social circles. Pain can keep them from sleeping and make it hard to concentrate or hold down a job. These changes can create a cycle of pain that leads to depression, which can lead to more chronic pain.
Does Chronic Pain Qualify You For Social Security Disability
Chronic pain refers to recurrent pain that continues way longer than expected. It is usually caused by injuries or acute illnesses lasting more than 3 6 months and in some instances the cause is unknown. Its indicators include: back pain, headaches, joint pain, or general nerve or muscle pain. It may be related to an injury or illness, or it may have no known cause. In other instances you may be diagnosed with pain disorders such as chronic regional pain syndrome, somatoform pain disorder, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy , or a disorder that causes chronic pain, such as peripheral neuropathy, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis.
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How Do I Enhance My Credibility With Social Security
If Social Security doesn’t find your complaints entirely believable, your chances of prevailing on your case decrease considerably. Unfortunately, disability claimants tend to make the same mistakes over and over, both on the initial application for benefits and at the disability hearing. The worst part is that these self-inflicted wounds are entirely avoidable. Here are some “best practices” you should keep in mind if you want to maximize your credibility with the SSA
Be realistic when rating your pain. Administrative law judges routinely ask claimants to “rate their pain” on a ten-point scale. Be extremely careful when responding to this question it might be a trap. If you state that your pain is a “9” or “10,” the judge may think that if the pain were really this severe, you’d be in the emergency room. On the other hand, stating that your pain is a “4” or “5” will lead the judge to believe it’s not particularly severe. If the ALJ insists that you put a number on your pain, you should certainly be honest and realistic, but also remember that no one’s ever had a claim denied because they rated their pain a nice, safe “7” or “8.”
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Summary Of Necessary Conditions And Evidence
The following information should also be consolidated in memo form in the claim file:
- worker’s name and claim number
- background
- is the chronic pain caused by the injury?
- has the pain persisted beyond the usual healing time?
- has the pain persisted for 6 or more months beyond the usual healing time?
- is the pain inconsistent with organic findings?
- does the chronic pain impair earning capacity?
If there is reason to suspect that the worker’s usual healing time is prolonged by other factors, e.g., age, diabetes, etc., an opinion will be obtained from a WSIB medical consultant to assist in the adjudicative process.
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