You may qualify for disability benefits if you can prove your Trigeminal Neuralgia significantly impairs your ability to work.
Trigeminal Neuralgia is a chronic medical condition that causes burning or shock-like facial pain. These bouts of pain often occur suddenly and without warning. Because it’s impossible to predict when these flare-ups will occur, this condition can be debilitating and may even make it impossible to work.
Scientists have not pinpointed the exact cause of trigeminal neuralgia. However, it is believed to be caused by damage to the protective lining around the trigeminal nerve. When this lining is damaged, the trigeminal nerve sends incorrect messages to the brain, causing painful flare-ups.
If you’re having difficulty working because of your condition, you may be able to qualify for disability benefits. Keep reading to learn more about how the SSA determines disability for this condition.
Can I Qualify for Disability with Trigeminal Neuralgia?
To qualify for Social Security disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA), you must be able to prove that your condition is severe enough to limit your ability to work and that your condition is expected to last for at least 12 months.
The SSA often uses medical evidence such as blood work and x-rays to determine the severity of your condition. Unfortunately, because Trigeminal Neuralgia is a neurological condition, it does not produce such concrete evidence.
Additionally, Trigeminal Neuralgia is not listed as a qualifying condition in the SSA’s Blue Book list of impairments. However, you can still qualify for benefits under a medical-vocational allowance.
To qualify under this allowance, you will need to show the SSA that your symptoms are severe enough to prevent you from doing any kind of work available to you.
Proving Disability
When you apply for disability benefits, you will need to provide a number of pieces of evidence that demonstrate the severity of your symptoms. These may include, medical records, test results, doctor’s notes, pain medications you’re taking, and a record of whether or not they’re helping.
You may also be asked to provide non-medical evidence like personal statements and statements from people in your life about how your pain affects your ability to work or do other daily activities.
Hiring a Social Security Disability Lawyer
Although it is possible to apply for Social Security Disability benefits on your own, the process can be extremely stressful and time-consuming. This is especially true for rare conditions like Trigeminal Neuralgia.
For these reasons, we highly recommend you trust an experienced Social Security disability attorney with the application process. They’ll ensure your application is thorough, complete, and accurate. They’ll also be able to represent you should you need to attend an appeals hearing.
Best of all, attorneys’ fees for Social Security disability claims are regulated by the SSA to prevent unfair and excessive charges. This means that you’ll owe nothing upfront, and if you win, your legal fees will be capped at a certain percentage of the backpay benefits you’re awarded.
Speak to a Disability Attorney About Trigeminal Neuralgia
If you’re suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia, turn to the disability attorneys at Rebel Brown Law Group. Our lawyers have over 50 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of people with long-term disabilities. We’re the most trusted disability lawyers in South Jersey.
Best of all, we offer free case consultations, and you’ll owe nothing until you win the benefits you deserve. Don’t wait to secure the disability insurance or income you’re owed!
Call us today at (856) 881-5000 to set up your free disability case consultation.
