Indiana Disability Legal Blog

Apply for disability with the help of your doctor

On behalf of The Law Office of McKown, Whitehurst & Myers posted in ssd and working with your doctor on Friday, April 5, 2019.

Suffering a disability that will prevent you from working for the foreseeable future (at least one year) can allow you to file for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. When starting the process, you should enlist the help of not only an attorney, but also your doctor. Your doctor can wind up helping you immensely when applying for benefits in Indianapolis.

The most important part a doctor plays in helping you file for disability benefits is promptly providing the medical source statement. This statement explains, in detail, how much you will be able to lift, walk, stand or sit if you were to work while disabled. A doctor should be able to provide any and all limitations you will have physically if you return to work while disabled.

World Bipolar Day offers a time to learn, a chance to accept

On behalf of The Law Office of McKown, Whitehurst & Myers posted in supplemental security income on Friday, March 29, 2019.

World Bipolar Day is being celebrated this year on March 30, 2019. It's a global opportunity to spread awareness about this serious mental condition, increase understanding of what victims and their families often endure and end the social stigma against mental illness.

Bipolar disorder (which used to be called "manic depression") is often confused with mere mood swings. In fact, it's actually a complicated imbalance of the chemicals in the brain -- and mood disturbances are only one problem that victims may experience. Some victims only experience manic phases -- while others tend to have mostly depressive phases with only a rare manic episode.

Applying for disability? Watch your social media posts

On behalf of The Law Office of McKown, Whitehurst & Myers posted in social security disability on Thursday, March 21, 2019.

Applying for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits is a challenging process that requires completing a lot of paperwork and visiting your doctor – probably more than once. Soon, it also could require a spotless social media presence.

The recently released proposed federal budget includes funding that would allow the Social Security Administration (SSA) to evaluate applicants, in part, by reviewing their posts on Facebook and Instagram.

Medication side effects and your disability claim

On behalf of The Law Office of McKown, Whitehurst & Myers posted in the claims process on Friday, March 15, 2019.

When people fill out their initial paperwork for their Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application, many people actually forget to include information about an important part of their medical condition: the side effects they experience from their medications.

The side effects that come along with many medications can add a layer of difficulty to an individual's life that isn't present with their actual disease. However, Social Security won't consider the problems your medication causes you unless you bring those side effects to their attention. That's because every drug tends to affect individual patients in unique ways. While one patient might experience relatively mild side effects from a drug that can be classified as "merely inconvenient," someone else might have a much more severe reaction that's very limiting.

What you should know about Social Security disability appeals

On behalf of The Law Office of McKown, Whitehurst & Myers posted in the claims process on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

You probably waited a long time – there is a months-long backlog – for a determination about your Social Security benefits. And much to your surprise, your claim was denied.

What are you going to do now? You were relying on that assistance to help you pay for your everyday living expenses and your medicines now that you can't work.

Will I qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits?

On behalf of The Law Office of McKown, Whitehurst & Myers posted in supplemental security income on Wednesday, February 27, 2019.

You wonder what it takes to qualify for Supplemental Security Income.

That's a good question that has a lot of parts to the answer.

Can I get a part-time job and still receive disability benefits?

On behalf of The Law Office of McKown, Whitehurst & Myers posted in social security disability on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

You receive Social Security disability benefits, but money is tight. Your friend tells you about a job opportunity that you think you could do -- despite your disability -- to make a little extra cash.

But if you apply and get the job, how will that impact your disability benefits? Is it even OK to take a part-time job while receiving benefits?

What you need to know about hearing loss and disability benefits

On behalf of The Law Office of McKown, Whitehurst & Myers posted in social security disability on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

If your hearing loss is severe and you no longer can do your job because of it, it would be in your best interest to apply for Social Security Disability benefits to help you pay your living expenses.

The Social Security Administration uses its medical guide, called the Blue Book, when it reviews an applicant's eligibility criteria. The Blue Book outlines when a person with hearing loss can become eligible for benefits.

Social Security Administration seeking public input about pain

On behalf of The Law Office of McKown, Whitehurst & Myers posted in the claims process on Thursday, February 7, 2019.

Americans have until Friday, February 15 to give the Social Security Administration input about how pain should be measured when it comes to being eligible for disability benefits.

The agency wants feedback that will help to determine if it should change its policy about pain evaluation.

Mental disorders that can qualify for SSD

On behalf of The Law Office of McKown, Whitehurst & Myers posted in social security disability on Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

Living with a disability can make even everyday activities a real challenge. Working with a disability is usually out of the question entirely, leaving many people asking how they will make their ends meet. Fortunately, Social Security Disability (SSD) is available to help individuals in need. Better yet, mental disorders are also covered by SSD.

Truly debilitating mental disorders like dementia and severe cognitive issues are not the only things covered by SSD. As we discussed in an earlier blog entry, issues that are becoming more understood, such as anxiety, are also covered in certain situations. Below is a list of other mental disorders that are most likely covered by SSD.