West Virginia Social Security Blog

West Virginia workers who have become disabled but are not taking medication might wonder if this fact would mean they cannot qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. It is not necessary to be taking medication for a disability in order to be approved for disability benefits; however, if a claimant is not taking medications, it could be more likely that the claim will be denied.

Social Security identifies many disabling conditions, and it is possible to be approved for disability benefits even if the disabling condition is not on the administration's list. But in order to be approved, a person must demonstrate that his or her medical condition makes working impossible. Someone who has a disability and is taking medication for his or her condition could be more likely to have a claim approved than someone who has a disability but is not taking medication. In the latter case, a disability examiner might be of the opinion that the disability is not severe, or deny the claim because it could be possible for the person to work if he or she was taking medication.

Some individuals may develop post-traumatic stress disorder after they have been through a distressing event. People who suffer from PTSD may be disabled by their conditions and unable to work as a result. PTSD sufferers may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits if their conditions are severe enough that they are unable to perform any substantial gainful activity.

PTSD is a severe form of anxiety that can be caused by experiencing emotionally traumatic events. In order to be approved for SSDI based on PTSD, people will either need to show that their conditions meet the criteria listed in the Blue Book or that they meet the requirements for medical-vocational allowances. PTSD that does not meet the listing criteria may still qualify a sufferer for disability benefits if it is severe enough that the person is unable to return to a former job and perform any substantial gainful activity.

West Virginia residents who think they might be entitled to Social Security benefits could be confused about the requirements. There are two types of Social Security disability benefits, and the qualification requirements for each type are based not only on disability but on factors including work history and income.

Supplement Security Income is based on need rather than work history. People who are disabled or blind and fall below a certain income level may qualify for SSI. Social Security Disability is based on work history. SSD works like insurance: While working, the worker pays into the system to insure against income loss if he or she is ever disabled and unable to work.

West Virginia residents may feel that too much time passes between applying for disability benefits and receiving a response. If an application needs to be heard by an administrative law judge, it could take two years for a hearing to take place. As a general rule, a decision can take about three to four months to reach. These wait times could increase as the number of applications surges because of the aging workforce.

One way to decrease the wait time is to provide an examiner with the information they need to make a decision. Generally, decisions are made based on an interpretation of available medical records. The more information about a medical history a person can provide, the better the odds are that they'll obtain a timely and favorable ruling in an initial application.