Will Loss of Speech Qualify Me for Disability Benefits?

Loss of speech can lead to a variety of complications in life. Not only can relationships be impacted, but so can careers, as many jobs depend on communication to function. When loss of speech starts impacting your performance at work, you might become eligible for disability benefits to replace lost income. Find out if you could qualify by working with a Pennsylvania disability lawyer who can offer guidance.

Loss of Speech Disability Benefits

Loss of speech is generally defined as the inability to produce speech. The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates each disabling medical condition the separate criteria. Overall criteria for disability benefits are similar and generally consider physical or mental conditions that impair work performance to be eligible.

The SSA defines loss of speech as an inability to be heard or understood by others. An inability to sustain speech may also fit into this definition, depending on how much this impacts communication. Unlike many other disabilities and medical conditions, the SSA is not concerned about the cause of the loss of speech. They are primarily focused on how the loss of speech impacts daily functioning.

Three main components evaluated by the SSA for loss of speech are audibility, intelligibility, and functional efficacy. Audibility measures whether the person can speak at a volume that can be heard. Intelligibility focuses on whether the person can connect speech phonetic units in a manner that is understood by others. Functional efficacy measures the rate and duration of speech.

Speech flow is another way to describe the functional efficacy of speech. The goal in measuring this is to notice whether the person can sustain speech long enough to effectively communicate messages. If the person seems tired, and this leads to interrupted and slow speech, then this could be deemed part of the disability.

Effective communication is the main goal of certain jobs and is lifesaving in other jobs. When loss of speech significantly impacts work performance, you could be eligible for disability benefits.

Types of Disability Benefits

There are two types of disability benefits called Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI eligibility requires you to have enough work credits. These work credits come from a history of working at different jobs that pay into Social Security.

If you do not have enough work credits, then SSI might be the program for you. Unlike SSDI, the SSI program does not require work credits or a moderately long work history. But rather, SSI goes off of your monthly income. As long as your monthly income is below a certain level, you could be eligible for SSI disability benefits.

Try contacting a Pennsylvania disability lawyer if you have questions about disability benefits. A lawyer can help you increase your chances.

Call Edelstein & Nelson Today

Depending on your circumstances, you could be eligible for disability benefits to cover basic living needs. Feel free to ask a Pennsylvania individual disability insurance attorney for help if you have questions about the disability benefits application process. Call Edelstein & Nelson today at (800) 300-0909 for a consultation about your legal options. Our legal team is ready to help you with the application process.