Indiana SSD for Blindness Attorneys

If you are blind or partially blind, you may have lost your employment as well as your future earning potential. If this is the case, you should not feel hopeless. Instead, you should contact an Indiana Social Security Disability lawyer from Hankey Marks & Crider so they can help you obtain disability income through the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Unlike other forms of disability, vision loss is objective. While it may be hard to detail the amount of pain someone with back problems is experiencing, an ophthalmologist can administer tests that give clear and conclusive results with respect to the degree of vision loss a person has suffered. These tests provide evidence that a lawyer can use to help you obtain Social Security disability income.

Vision problems eliminate individuals from entire categories of jobs. In today’s world, most jobs require fine visual acuity. Individuals do not have to be completely visually impaired to be barred from participating in the workforce. For example, even entry-level jobs require workers to drive vehicles, read small print, deal with hazardous equipment, or be able to navigate unprotected heights.

If you are blind or partially blind and have no income as a result, you may be entitled to Social Security disability benefits. Contact Hankey Marks & Crider to review your Social Security eligibility, apply for benefits, or appeal your case if you were denied benefits.

Can I Get Tested By a General Practitioner, or Do I Need to See a Specialist?

While getting your vision tested by a general practitioner may be an initial indication of your vision problems, it is recommended that you seek the opinion of a specialist. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye. Ophthalmologists are generally the only doctors that can perform the full range of vision tests required by the SSA. Additionally, the SSA places greater weight on the opinion of a specialist in the field of medicine in which the disability has occurred (in this case an ophthalmologist) than on the opinion of a general practitioner.

How Does the SSA Define Blindness?

The SSA defines blindness as a “central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction, or a limitation in the field of vision in the better eye so that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle of 20 degrees or less.” If you fall under this definition of blindness, you should apply to receive disability income from the SSA.

Do Corrective Measures for My Vision Have an Effect on My Social Security Disability Eligibility?

Yes. It is important to note that blindness as defined by the SSA takes corrective measures into account. The SSA requires that individuals wear any corrective assets while completing applicable vision loss tests. As such, if you are able to obtain 20/20 vision through the use of glasses, you will not be considered vision impaired as defined by the SSA. Furthermore, any documentation you provide to the SSA must confirm that no method of vision correction, outside of invasive surgery, has been effective.

Am I Eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits?

The SSA defines disability as the inability to engage in substantial gainful activity because of a medically determined condition or conditions that have lasted or are expected to last longer than 12 consecutive months or that result in death.

If you are blind or if the vision in your better eye is 20/200 or worse, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. A lawyer will be able to help you determine if you are eligible for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner they can gather medical evidence to prove your eligibility.

Even if you are not legally blind, but your poor vision combined with other health problems prevents you from working, you may still qualify for benefits. In this situation, your income must be below a certain amount to receive SSI payments or you must have worked a job where you paid Social Security payroll taxes to receive Social Security Disability benefits.

Will I Need to Present Evidence Other Than My Vision Tests?

If you are not considered legally blind, the SSA will likely require you to provide additional documentation regarding the extent of your disability. The SSA will factor in how your partial blindness affects your ability to work, as well as how your partial blindness may accentuate your inability to work by aggravating any other medical conditions you may have. You should expect to present documentation of your education, employment history, and job training to show that your impaired vision prevents you from returning to an occupation for which you are trained or suited.

Additionally, you will need to obtain a Residual Functional Capacity report from your ophthalmologist. The purpose of this report is to document how your visual impairments affect your ability to live everyday life and perform basic work functions. The SSA will factor in your age, education, job history, and medical history when making the determination of your eligibility for benefits.

Why Should You Hire a Social Security Disability Attorney?

If you have a disability such as blindness or partial blindness that limits your function in everyday activities, you should hire a Social Security disability attorney. An attorney will help discover if you’re eligible for benefits, and they will be able to help you correctly complete an application. Unfortunately, the SSA’s exacting standards for their paperwork make it hard to apply, and they do not hesitate to deny any applications that are not completed to their satisfaction. This is why it is critical to work with a lawyer.

How Can Hankey Marks & Crider Help You?

The lawyers at Hankey Marks & Crider have over 75 years of combined legal experience helping clients get Social Security benefits. We have helped our clients obtain disability income from the SSA, and we can help you, too. Don’t lose hope; if we think you’re eligible for SSDI or SSI, we’ll do our best to help you get it.

Contact us online or call us now at (317) 634-8565. Our Indiana Social Security Disability lawyers are ready to speak with you.