Can You Claim Disability for Obesity in Michigan and Ohio?
If you want to claim disability for obesity in Michigan, Ohio, or Indiana, you’ll need to show that your health issues will prevent you from working any job for 12 months or longer.
This is a tough standard to meet, and it’s even tougher because obesity isn’t an impairment traditionally seen as qualifying for disability on its own.
If you want to make your case for benefits, the Michigan disability lawyers of Levine Benjamin Law Firm can help.
It’s difficult to win disability benefits for any kind of health issue. We understand the unique challenges that anyone seeking disability benefits for obesity faces.
You should have assistance from someone who knows this system well. Levine Benjamin is the top law firm in Michigan measured by how much we win in benefits according to Social Security numbers.
We’ve been helping people win the benefits they deserve for more than 60 years.
Being obese or morbidly obese can make it impossible to work, but it’s challenging to get Social Security to see it that way. More than 100 million Americans have obesity, and most can work.
We’ll help you show how your situation is different and build an obesity disability claim that makes it clear you face severe limits in your day-to-day functioning because of your health issues.
And you won’t pay an attorney’s fee until you win benefits.
From applying to appealing, we help you every step of the way.
What would you like to do?
When Can Obesity Qualify for Disability Benefits in Michigan?
Because Social Security doesn’t specifically list obesity as a health impairment that qualifies for disability benefits on its own, a measure called your “residual functional capacity” (RFC) is going to be the most important part of your claim.
Your RFC shows what kinds of mental and physical capabilities you have in spite of your health issues.
With backup from your doctor, you’ll need to answer questions like these:
- Does your obesity make it difficult to walk or stand?
- Can you sit for work for long periods of time?
- Can you lift or carry objects?
- Can you climb ladders if you need to for work?
- Can you stoop, crouch or crawl if you need to?
- Can you concentrate on work and complete tasks on schedule?
- Can you tolerate normal levels of stress?
- Can you work effectively with your coworkers?
These answers all give Social Security an idea about what kind of work you can do, if any, with your health issues.
Another important component of any disability claim for obesity is any other health issue you suffer that may be related to your obesity.
In fact, your main claim for benefits could be medical problems like these:
- Asthma
- Back pain
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Congestive heart failure
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Musculoskeletal diseases
- Osteoarthritis
- Strokes
Many of these conditions are officially recognized by Social Security as potential “disabilities.”
So if you have any of them, you may want that to be the focus of your disability claim. Also, when you’re trying to get disability benefits for obesity, the combined effects of different ailments, along with obesity, will be important to your claim.
The Levine Benjamin Detroit disability attorneys can help you build a convincing obesity disability claim from the very first steps.
What Kind of Disability Benefits Can I Qualify for With Obesity?
When you’re applying for Social Security Disability, you have two benefits programs you could possibly qualify for.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is for people who have worked and paid a qualifying amount into Social Security, but now they find themselves unable to work due to health problems.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a need-based program, so you could qualify for these benefits even if you have never worked. But you need to meet strict income requirements.
Let’s take a closer look at the requirements and benefits for both benefits programs:
| WHAT YOU NEED… | SSDI | SSI |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting Social Security’s definition of “disability” | REQUIRED | REQUIRED |
| Having sufficient “work credits” | REQUIRED. You can only receive SSDI if you have a substantial, recent history of working and paying into Social Security. | NO. You can qualify for SSI benefits even if you’ve never worked a substantial amount, or not for a long time. |
| Having strict asset limitations | NO, you can have any other assets like investments or property and still receive SSDI benefits. You just cannot have much income from current work. | REQUIRED. You can only qualify for SSI if you have limited financial resources. Qualifying individuals can have $2,000 in assets that count under the program, and couples can have $3,000 in assets. |
| WHAT YOU GET… | SSDI | SSI |
| Monthly checks | SSDI looks at your past wages and uses a formula to determine how much you’ll receive in SSDI benefits each month. | SSI starts at the same maximum payment amount for everyone and can be reduced based on your income and other benefits you receive. |
| Medical coverage | With SSDI, you can enroll in Medicare after a waiting period. | You can enroll in Medicaid as soon as you’re approved for SSI. |
If you’re unsure about which types of disability benefits you could claim for obesity and other related health problems, we can help.
Talk to our Michigan and Ohio disability lawyers and we’ll help you figure out if you may qualify for SSDI, SSI, or both.
What Do I Need When I Submit an Obesity Disability Claim?
The SSA won’t just take your word about how obesity stops you from working.
You’ll need objective evidence when you apply for disability benefits. The more you have, the more convincing your disability claim will be.
Items that can help include:
- Results of medical tests
- Your doctor’s assessment of your limitations and capabilities
- Information about treatments you’ve tried
- A list of prescription medications you’re taking, their dosages, effects and side effects
- Records on any other medical conditions you suffer from and details of how they make work difficult
- Evidence that you needed accommodations at work, like extra breaks, a reduced workload or assistive devices
- Statements from friends, family members and others who have witnessed how your health struggles limit your daily life
Collecting and organizing all of this evidence can be difficult, especially if you see multiple doctors, but it’s essential in the application process for disability benefits.
How a Detroit Disability Lawyer Can Help with Your Obesity Disability Claim
Applying for disability benefits and winning is incredibly difficult. Roughly 60% to 65% of people get denied disability benefits on their initial application.
It’s even more challenging to get approved for benefits when you’re applying because of a health issue that is very common and isn’t traditionally seen as severe enough to stop you from working most of the time, like obesity.
Work with a knowledgeable Detroit disability lawyer who knows what Social Security looks for in a claim.
Levine Benjamin Law Firm can help you with each step of this process, including:
- Helping you fill out SSA forms correctly and completely
- Identifying evidence that can make your claim more convincing
- Building your argument that you’re unable to do any job, not just your current job, due to your health
- Responding to Social Security if you get denied benefits and need to appeal
- Keeping you aware of important deadlines
- Representing you at your disability hearing in front of an administrative law judge (ALJ)
- Cross-examining expert witnesses at your hearing
- Identifying legally appealable errors in Social Security’s process
Winning disability benefits for obesity will take significant effort, but it’s a little easier when you have some help.
Our team has helped more than 100,000 people in Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Toledo, Elkhart and across Michigan, Indiana and Ohio win the benefits they deserve.
If your obesity makes it impossible to work, we want to help you get the financial support you need to get back to stable ground.