Our Washington DC and Baltimore Amputee Lawyer Explains How an Amputation May Qualify You for Disability Benefits

If you have had a limb amputated, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits if you satisfy certain medical criteria required by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA administers the Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) program, which is a federal program that provides financial benefits to individuals with qualifying disabilities. Applicants must have earned enough work credits to qualify for the SSDI program. Rather than try to determine your eligibility on your own, our Baltimore disability law firm makes the process easier for you to navigate. 

SSA’s Blue Book Listing for Amputations

An amputation often involves the loss of an extremity or body part such as a hand or leg. It can stem from various issues such as a traumatic accident, infectious disease, or other degenerative issues. Our Baltimore SSD lawyer knows that amputations can be disabling and can make working difficult, if not impossible. However, if the amputation is considered a qualifying disability, an applicant may qualify for the SSD or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. 

When reviewing an application for disability, the SSA uses a medical guide called the Blue Book to evaluate the applicant’s medical condition to determine whether they have a qualifying disability. The Blue Book includes medical criteria that must be met for a condition to qualify as a medical disability.  

Regarding amputations specifically, the Blue Book includes a specific listing under Section 1.00 Musculoskeletal Systems. Amputation is listed in subsection 1.05, which classifies amputations into four categories by the SSA, including the following:

• Both hands, or
• One or both lower extremities at or above the tarsal region, with stump complications resulting in a medical inability to use a prosthetic device to ambulate effectively, or
• One hand and lower extremity at or above the tarsal regions, with an inability to ambulate effectively, or
• Hemipelvectomy (a high-level amputation of the pelvis) or hip disarticulation (loss of hip, knee, and ankle)

If you have suffered from an amputation listed above, you may qualify for SSD benefits.  A Washington DC Social Security lawyer at the Law Office of Emmett B. Irwin can help explain the application process to you and help you through the SSD process every step of the way. Our office has decades of experience handling disability cases. We are here for you.   

Need Help With Your SSD Case? Contact a Washington DC or  Baltimore Amputee Disability Lawyer Today 

Suffering from an amputation is painful enough. You should not also have to suffer from the pain of completing an application for SSDI benefits. Many initial applications for disability are denied.  Because the SSD application process is complicated, an experienced Baltimore amputee disability lawyer who understands how the system works can help you with the SSD application process.  An experienced Washington DC disability lawyer at the Law Office of Emmett B. Irwin can handle your disability case from start to finish. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. We work with clients throughout Maryland and surrounding states, including Washington DC.