Social Security Disability Attorneys for Amputation
If you had a partial or total amputation and can no longer work, contact the Indiana Social Security Disability lawyers of Hankey Marks & Crider to represent you in your case. You might be eligible for social security disability benefits so you can afford your medical treatment and other expenses.
A range of diseases, traumatic events, and other causes can result in an amputation. There are around 185,000 amputations every year in the country. When you lose a leg, foot, hand, or arm, it can severely limit your physical abilities. Basic tasks, such as driving, showering, and eating, become challenging. If you need your lost limb for your job, you can’t earn a living anymore.
At Hankey Marks & Crider, our team of social security disability attorneys knows the impact of this type of disability. It can be traumatic and lead to stress, depression, and various other psychological problems. We want to ensure you can pursue the Social Security Disability benefits you need to get your life back on track.
Whether you’re applying for benefits or appealing a denied claim, you should contact us at (317) 634-8565 to learn how we can help.
What Is an Amputation?
An amputation involves surgically removing someone’s extremity or limb from their body. Toes, fingers, hands, feet, arms, or legs can be amputated. The most common surgical amputation is of the leg below or above the knee.
Various situations could lead to an amputation surgery, but the most common is narrowing or damaged arteries causing poor circulation. If there isn’t enough blood flow to a particular part of the body, the cells don’t get the nutrients and oxygen they need. That can lead to infection as the tissue starts dying.
Other common causes of amputation are:
- Frostbite
- Severe injury from a traumatic event, such as a car accident
- Untreated infection
- Tumor
- Neuroma (thickening of the nerve tissue)
During an amputation, the surgeon will determine how much tissue they need to remove and where to make the incision by using any of these methods:
- Compare the skin temperature of a healthy limb and damaged limb
- Check for a pulse near the incision site
- Look for red areas of skin
- Check if the area near the incision site is sensitive to touch
The surgery will involve various steps, such as:
- Removing damaged tissue and any crushed bones
- Smoothing the bone in uneven areas
- Sealing off the nerves and blood vessels
- Shaping and cutting any muscles around the affected limb so a prosthesis can fit if necessary
Amputations will have long-lasting effects. Even when you heal from the surgery, you can find it challenging to get back to your everyday life. If you had a job where you were on your feet all day but lost one of your legs, you likely can’t perform your daily tasks anymore. If you can’t find another job, you could struggle to support yourself. At Hankey Marks & Crider, our Social Security Disability attorneys can help you file a claim and collect the maximum benefits you deserve.
Benefits You Can Seek from the Social Security Administration
The benefits you receive will depend on your eligibility. You could apply for either Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Both come with different requirements for eligibility, and each can assist you and your family in different ways.
Social Security Disability – These benefits are for disabled workers and their families. If you qualify, you will receive payments from the Social Security taxes taken out of your paycheck while you had a job. If you’re still working, you can’t collect SSD benefits. They’re only available to people who can’t maintain employment.
The amount of your payments will depend on two factors:
- The number of years you worked before you had an amputation; and
- Your average monthly income before becoming disabled.
If you require Social Security Disability benefits for more than two years, your spouse and children might also be eligible for payments.
Supplemental Security Income – Individuals and families that can’t collect Social Security Disability benefits could qualify for SSI. Your assets and income will determine whether you can receive these payments. These benefits come from a general fund tax instead of Social Security taxes.
Individuals applying for Supplemental Security Income must have under $2,000 in assets. Couples can’t have more than $3,000 in assets. You might also be entitled to cash benefits to pay for your clothing, shelter, and other basic needs.
When to Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits
There is no specific timeframe for initiating the application process. However, it’s a good idea to file your claim as soon as you become disabled. Although you must have a disability for at least six months before payments can begin, it could take a while for the Social Security Administration to approve your application.
You can apply for SSD benefits at your local Social Security office, over the phone, or online. However, it can be confusing and complicated, so your best option would be to contact Hankey Marks & Crider. We can assist you in completing the application and file it on your behalf.
Once we initiate the claim, the Social Security office will need to look over everything to determine if they want to approve your application. They will make their decision and forward it to the state’s agency for review. If the state’s agency thinks you deserve benefits and the Social Security office agrees with their recommendation, you’ll begin receiving payments as long as at least six months have passed since your amputation left you disabled.
Contact Us
Hankey Marks & Crider has over 80 years of combined experience working on Social Security Disability claims and appeals. We can take on the responsibility of your case and protect your rights from start to finish of the process. A disability resulting from an amputation doesn’t have to disrupt your whole life. Let us be your advocate and help you recover the maximum benefits you deserve.
If you had an amputation surgery and can’t work anymore, call Hankey Marks & Crider at (317) 634-8565 for a free consultation with one of our Social Security Disability attorneys.