Vision Disorders
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides benefits to people who cannot work due to a vision disorder. The SSA defines a vision disorder as an abnormality of the eye, optic nerve, optic tracts, or brain that prevents a person from seeing details or impairs peripheral vision. The SSA will ask to see records from your eye exams or your neurologist when determining whether your vision disorder qualifies you to receive Social Security disability benefits.
Both people who are legally blind and people who are not legally blind but whose vision prevents them from working may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. The SSA defines being legally blind as having vision that cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in your better eye, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less in your better eye. Legally blind individuals can earn credits toward Social Security disability payments at any time, before or after they become legally blind.
Qualifying for SSD Benefits
People whose vision disorders do not qualify them as legally blind but who still cannot work due to vision problems may also be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. To qualify for disability benefits, people who are not legally blind must have earned enough credits by working in jobs where they paid into Social Security. For both legally blind and non-legally blind persons with vision disorders, Social Security income (SSI) benefits may be available even if you have not worked enough to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
People with vision disorders also have the advantage that two SSA rules were designed particularly for people who have trouble seeing. The first is the "disability freeze rule." This rule ignores any years you worked in which your income was reduced because of your vision disorder. This means that the amount of your Social Security disability benefit is calculated based only on your high-paying years of work, meaning that you may receive more benefits each month as a result of this rule.
The second rule that benefits those with vision disorders is the work incentive rule, which allows those with vision disorders to make more money each month and still receive Social Security disability benefits. For instance, in 2010, most people receiving SSD benefits could only make $1,000 per month without losing their benefits. However, those with vision disorders may make up to $1,640 per month without losing their benefits.
In addition, if you're receiving SSD benefits due to a vision disorder and are over the age of 55, you may qualify for suspension of SSD benefits. This means that if you make over $1,640 in any month, you will not receive SSD benefits for that month, but you will continue to receive them for any month in which you make less than that amount.
Navigating the complex rules the Social Security Administration follows for people with vision disorders can be confusing and frustrating. An experienced Missouri Social Security disability attorney can help you gather the information the SSA requires and help you demonstrate that you are entitled to receive disability benefits. At Page Law, we can help put you in contact with Missouri SSD lawyers who have the legal resources and experience necessary to fight aggressively for your right to Social Security disability benefits. To find out how we can assist you, call Page Law today at (314) 322-8515 for a free consultation.
Additional Social Security Disability Information
- Digestive Disorders
- Disability Denial and Reconsideration
- Disability FAQ
- Heart Disorders
- Medicare/Medicaid
- Social Security Checks
- Social Security Disability
- Social Security FAQ
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Vision Disorders
