Back pain remains one of the most common reasons people apply for disability benefits. Lower back pain is familiar to many people, but for some, this pain can become chronic and debilitating. Certain causes like nerve root compression or degenerative disc disorder can lead to chronic back pain. Some medical conditions like these are successfully treated, while others come with difficulties. With all the back pain claims the Social Security Administration receives regularly, making sure your claim stands out is vital. Talk to a Philadelphia disability lawyer to make your claim strong. 

General Back Pain is Common

Low back pain is something almost anyone can relate to, especially as individuals age. A lot of people have experienced what it is like to strain your back and deal with the pain for a few days, but not everyone has a chronic medical condition that causes their pain. The SSA lists several underlying medical conditions for back pain that may qualify you for benefits. These include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Herniated disc
• Degenerative disc disorder
• Spinal stenosis
• Arachnoiditis
• Scoliosis
• Nerve root compression
• Spondylitis

However, even if your doctor diagnosed you with one of these conditions, you still have to meet other criteria for a disability. According to the SSA, a disability that warrants benefits is a disability that limits you physically or mentally for a significant length of time, 12 months to be exact. Your back pain condition can either have lasted 12 months or be predicted to last 12 months. The only exception to this rule is if your condition has been deemed terminal. 

Lastly, your back pain must prevent you in some significant way from working or holding a steady job. Certain back pain can make working physically demanding jobs difficult, while other cases of back pain can make concentration during mentally demanding jobs challenging. To ensure your application for benefits stands out, do not hold back on how your condition has negatively impacted your ability to work. 

Not Meeting the Requirements

Disability benefits applications are also denied because the person fails to meet all the requirements of the application. Successful applications require hard medical evidence. This means an official diagnosis by your doctor with notes on how your condition will impact your current and future work performance. Medical records that give examples of how your disability has affected your work performance in the past are also important. Look for medical records that excused you from work or requested accommodations.

Follow your doctor’s treatment advice because if not, the SSA may not take your condition seriously. The SSA sees a lack of cooperation as someone not taking their disability seriously. If you want to prove to the SSA how problematic your condition is, follow the treatments offered. 

Disability Lawyer in Philadelphia

Applying for disability benefits can often be confusing. Consider hiring a Philadelphia denied benefits appeal lawyer if you have experienced problems with your application. You can call Edelstein & Nelson today at 1-800-300-0909 for a consultation. We will work with you by running through the application to make sure all the criteria are met.