Vision Loss and Social Security Disability

Vision Loss is not an uncommon problem. It is estimated that there are more than 10 million people in the United States alone who experience vision loss significantly enough to be considered visually impaired. When a person suffers from Vision Loss they may be unable to work and provide a stable income for themselves and their families. In some cases, Social Security Disability benefits can offset the financial difficulties caused by a loss of vision. If you have suffered from Vision Loss you may be wondering how you can qualify for disability benefits and how to file a claim. The following information can help you understand how your loss of vision qualifies you for disability benefits and how your claim Social Security Disability claim will be processed.

Vision Loss - Condition and Symptoms

Vision Loss can be caused by a variety of conditions. There are more than 150 different causes of Vision Loss, with the most common being glaucoma, cataracts, refractive eye disorders, macular degeneration, cytomegalovirus, and presbyopia.

Each case of vision loss is different. A loss of vision can affect one or both eyes. A person may be able to see with a limited scope of vision or may not be able to see at all. When a person suffers from a significant loss of vision it can lead to a significant impact on their quality of life and their ability to work.

Vision Loss can be diagnosed by an optometrist. Whether or not you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits due to your loss of vision will depend on the extent of your vision loss and how it impacts your ability to perform work activities.

Filing for Social Security Disability with Vision Loss

The Social Security Administration (SSA) does recognize vision loss as an impairment in its Impairment Listings manual. They consider Vision Loss as a qualifying disability when there is a severe loss of vision in both eyes and the ability to see in the better eye is less than 20/200. In this case a person would qualify for Social Security Disability benefits under Section 2.02 of SSA’s guidelines. A person can also qualify for disability benefits if peripheral vision is affected and the field of vision is less than 20 degrees in the better eye. In this case they would qualify for disability benefits under Section 2.03 of SSA's Impairment Listings guidelines.

If your loss of vision does not fall under the above guidelines you may still be able to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits if you can prove that your vision loss interferes with your ability to perform gainful employment. Usually this is possible when the vision loss is combined with other health conditions. If this is the case make sure you discuss with your doctor how your Vision Loss and your other health problems are affecting your ability to perform gainful work activity.

Vision Loss and Your Social Security Disability Case

When applying for Social Security Disability benefits due to a loss of vision you will have to prove that your vision loss prevents you from being able to work. You will need medical records and statements from your physicians to support your claim.

When evaluating your disability claim the Social Security examiner will review your Social Security Disability application, your medical records, your work history and any statements provided by your doctors. If enough evidence is not provided with your application, the SSA may request that you go in for an independent consultative exam. If this happens you will not have to pay for the exam. The cost will be covered by the SSA.

Once the SSA has all of the information needed to process your disability claim they will make a decision based on the information they have gathered. Usually this will occur 90 to 120 days after the submission of your application. It is important to remember that only 30 to 35 percent of applicants will be approved at this stage of the Social Security Disability application process. If your claim is one of the claims that is denied you can go on to appeal the decision.

If your case of Vision Loss is clearly documented and falls under the SSA’s guidelines you may not have to file an appeal at all and you may very well be one of those applicants who fall into the small group who are approved for benefits at the initial claim level. If you do have to file an appeal, you must do so within 60 days of the SSA's decision. You may want to hire a Social Security Disability attorney to increase your chances of filing a successful Social Security Disability claim.