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As defined by Johns Hopkins Medicine, chronic pain is persistent pain that lasts for weeks, months, or years. There are many forms of chronic pain—from lower back problems to arthritis to migraine headaches. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 20 percent of U.S. adults have chronic pain and that 7 percent of U.S. adults have severe and debilitating chronic pain.
Chronic pain is technically not a listed impairment in the Social Security disability blue book. That being said, you can still qualify for benefits for chronic pain if you can prove that you have a medically determinable disabling condition. In this blog post, our Phoenix Social Security disability attorneys provide a guide to chronic pain and Social Security disability plans in Arizona.
Social Security Disability Medical Evaluation: Chronic Pain
One of the first things that you need to know about chronic pain is that it is not a “listed” condition by the Social Security Administration. There is no one section of SSA policy to refer to for a chronic pain disability claim. Instead, the SSA will take a careful look at the specific cause and nature of the chronic pain that an applicant is dealing with. You will only be able to qualify for benefits if your chronic pain is medically determinable and severe enough to be disabling. Notably, chronic pain may fall under another listed impairment. Some examples include:
- Arthritis: Listing 14.09
- Headaches/Neurological Issues: Listing 11.00
- Lower Back Pain: Listing 1.01
With chronic pain, the specific facts always matter. Claiming Social Security disability benefits for generalized chronic pain is challenging. A person seeking benefits should focus on the specific type of chronic pain that they are enduring.
Technical Eligibility Criteria: Applicants for Social Security disability benefits for chronic pain must also satisfy technical eligibility requirements. You will be denied benefits if your income is too high.
Medical Records Must Support a Disability Claim for Chronic Pain
In order to get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for chronic pain, an applicant must provide detailed medical evidence that proves the existence and severity of their condition. Although not technically a listed condition, chronic pain can still potentially qualify for Social Security disability benefits. If you have any specific questions about the medical documents and records that you need for a chronic pain SSDI or SSI claim, contact an experienced Arizona Social Security disability attorney for help.
Is Chronic Pain Preventing You From Working in Arizona?
We can help. At Pekas Smith: Arizona Disability Attorneys, our Phoenix Social Security disability lawyers provide personalized legal representation to people and families. If you have questions about qualifying for SSDI or SSI benefits for chronic pain, we are here to help. Give us a call now or contact our law firm online for a free, fully confidential case evaluation. Our law firm handles Social Security disability claims throughout all of Arizona, including in Scottsdale, Tucson, and Gilbert.
