Most everyone has experienced neck pain at some point in their lives. Most of the time, neck pain is not acute and may not impact an individual’s ability to perform job duties. But if the neck pain becomes so bad that the individual is unable to work for an extended period of time, it may be possible to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.
Neck pain symptoms
Neck pain, also known as Cervicalgia, is pain or discomfort in one of the first seven vertebrae of a person’s spine. It can be caused by several different issues such as neck injuries, nerve compression, muscle strain or worn-down joints. Symptoms include numbness in the arms or fingers, sharp pain when turning the head, chronic stiffness, and pain in the face and/or shoulders and headaches.
SSDI benefits for neck pain
To obtain Social Security Disability Insurance for neck problems, the applicant must show that the requirements of Social Security’s disability listings for the specified ailment have been met. For neck pain, medical evidence is needed to document muscle weakness, a lack of sensation or reflexes, inability to move the extremities, difficulty with motor movements or evidence to show the condition is caused by a compressed nerve root. Also, it must be shown that the individual has been or is expected to be disabled for at least 12 months.
Where to get help when applying
Those who want to apply for SSDI benefits should check the Social Security Administration’s website to make sure they have all the necessary evidence. Every year, thousands of applicants are initially denied because they left something out of their application. Anyone who suffers a chronic injury or illness and needs help applying for SSDI benefits can obtain guidance by contacting and speaking with an experienced disability attorney.
