Parkinson's Disease & Social Security Disability

In order for Social Security to determine support for Parkinson’s disease, it must be severe enough to significantly limit one’s ability to perform basic work activities needed to do most jobs.

For example:

• Walking, standing, sitting, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, carrying or handling

• Seeing, hearing and speaking

• Understanding/carrying out and remembering simple instructions

• Responding appropriately to supervision, co-workers and usual work situations

• Dealing with changes in a routine work setting

Parkinson’s is listed under the category of impairments known as neurological. If the following criteria are met, an individual is found to be disabled under the Social Security as meeting a medical listing: Significant rigidity, bradykinesia or tremor in two extremities, which – singly or in combination – result in disturbance of gross and dexterous movements or gait and station. An individual who has the preceding clinical findings and has a diagnosis of Parkinson’s will be found to meet medical listing 11.06. An individual who has similar findings with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s may be found to “medically equate” the aforementioned medical listing.

If the person does not meet the requirements above, you will need to explore the ability of an individual to perform work they have done in the past despite their Parkinson’s disease. If the SSA finds that a person can do his past work, benefits are denied. If the person cannot, then the process proceeds to the fifth and final step.

The fifth step requires a review of age, education, work experience and physical/mental condition to determine what other work, if any, the person can perform.

To determine Parkinson’s disease disability, the SSA enlists medical-vocational rules, which vary according to age.

For example, if a person is:

• Under age 50 and, as a result of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, unable to perform what the SSA calls sedentary work, then the SSA will reach a determination of disabled. Sedentary work requires the ability to lift a maximum of 10 pounds at a time, sit six hours and occasionally walk and stand two hours per eight-hour day.

• Age 50 or older and, due to the disability, limited to performing sedentary work, but has no work-related skills that allow him to do so, the SSA will reach a determination of disabled.

• Age 55 or older and, due to the disability, limited to performing light work, but has no work-related skills that allow him to do so, the SSA will reach a determination of disabled.

• Over age 60 and, due to the disability, unable to perform any of the jobs he performed in the last 15 years, the SSA will likely reach a determination of disabled.

• Any age and, because of Parkinson’s disease, has a psychological impairment that prevents even simple, unskilled work, the SSA will reach a determination of disabled.

An Accredited Disability Representative with more than 16 years experience, Diana Wade believes her clientele can be comfortable knowing that she is recognized by SSA and a charter member of NADR. To contact Ms. Wade call 661-821-0494, email [email protected] or visit http://CaliforniaDisability.net.