Making Sure the Law Is On Your Side

Parkinson's is a devastating disease that can often make it more difficult for a person to live their life. In some situations, a person may lose some or even all of their ability to speak and need high-quality Social Security disability benefits in order to stay financially solvent.

Gauging If You Qualify

Speech and swallowing issues caused by Parkinson's complicate a person's ability to communicate with co-workers, managers, and other professionals. For example, a manager of a supermarket may be unable to give orders to people without great difficulty.

As a result, you need to gauge if you qualify for Social Security disability according to the official federal definition. Thankfully, serious speech and sense issues, such as an inability to talk, do count as a legitimate disability. And if you simply cannot work due to these issues, you need to get on SS benefits as soon as possible.

Filing an initial claim is a critical step in the process but can be difficult for many people to do without help. For example, you'll need to showcase the problems that your Parkinson's-related speech issues cause at work. Sometimes, this requires steps such as getting eye-witness testimony or recording yourself struggling to talk.

And, unfortunately, you may end up running into a roadblock if you get denied on your initial claim. Do you have to go back to struggling to communicate with your co-workers every day? Thankfully, no, as you can always appeal the decision, especially if you think it is unfair.

Appealing Is Often A Necessary Step

If your initial claim for disability was denied, there are thankfully four different ways that you can appeal the decision. Unfortunately, as you continue to lose your ability to talk, you might struggle to execute some of these steps. For example, a review by the Appeals Council or a Federal Court judge often requires you to testify on your behalf during the case.

Thankfully, these are the last two steps, respectively, in the appeal process. A request for reconsideration typically requires no new information but does require you and a lawyer to come up with a detailed reason why your inability to speak qualifies you for disability. In any of these four steps, you need to show the appealing authority that you simply cannot work with your current condition.

This process can be a complex one for somebody who is slowly losing their ability to speak. While written communication will be allowed during these hearings, speaking is easier and direct. So don't hesitate to contact a Social Security disability law office like Parmele Law Firm, PC if your inability to speak is affecting the success of your denial appeal.