West Virginia Social Security Blog

Social Security disability benefits exist for the support and benefit of individuals who cannot work and earn a sufficient income due to a medical condition or severe injury. This is also true for some people who have diabetes. While many in West Virginia with this sickness are able to live full lives and work full-time, others may find they are not able to do so. In certain circumstances, diabetes could be a legitimate reason to seek disability benefits.

If you have diabetes, you may wonder if this is an option for you. Even with a valid medical condition and a completed application, it can be quite difficult to navigate the disability claims process. If you would like to move forward with your claim, it may be helpful to learn more about eligibility requirements and how the claims process works.

When a medical disability makes it impossible or very difficult for an individual in West Virginia to earn a living, they may file a claim to receive Social Security payments. Such claims are first sent to the state's disability determination services (DDS) agency. A specialist referred to as a disability examiner will then be assigned the case. This is the person who reviews the medical documents included with the application along with their sources.

Because a Social Security disability determination needs to be made with current medical information, an examiner may schedule a consultative examination or series of examinations so they can get updated information on a claimant's current physical and/or mental health status. While these consultative exams (CEs) aren't always the best source of medical information, they are sometimes necessary if sufficient recent documentation isn't available. For this reason, it's often recommended that claimants obtain medical reports from doctors familiar with their situations.

When a West Virginia applicant files for Social Security disability benefits, it is because he or she has a mental or physical condition that prevents him or her from earning a living. When your medical issues keep you from earning enough income to support yourself or enter the workforce at all, you could be eligible for this same support. Unfortunately, even people with valid claims find they are not initially successful.

It may be helpful for you to know that many first-time claims for disability benefits come back denied. It is actually quite common, and while frustrating, it is not the end of the road. You have the right to continue to pursue your benefits through a reconsideration of your claim or an appeal.

Whether a West Virginia resident has a physical or mental condition, a decision on a Social Security disability claim will be based on available medical records. This may mean providing records from a family physician or anyone else who has treated an applicant. There are many different types of applicable mental ailments, such as anxiety, bipolar disorder or impaired memory. The occurrence of panic attacks or depression could also prevent a person from working or remaining employed.

The goal of any applicant is to show proof that a condition exists and that it impairs their ability to function normally. For example, an individual could claim that memory problems make it harder to concentrate or follow instructions while on the job. It may also be possible to claim that a mental condition prohibits an individual from being able to get along with managers or other employees.