Qualifying For Social Security Disability With Vision Loss If you or someone you love experiences vision loss, you may be eligible for Social Security disability bene@its. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers monthly @inancial aid for Americans with disabilities that prevent them from working for at least 12 months. If you can no longer work due to your eyesight, you may be eligible for Social Security bene@its. There are a few ways someone with vision loss may be eligible.

Medically Qualifying ForBene@its

The SSA uses its own medical guide, known colloquially as the “Blue Book,” when determining whether an applicant has a condition that warrants disability approval. There are three separate listings for vision loss under the Blue Book. The @irst listing —lost of central visual acuity—is very straightforward. If your vision is worse than 20/200 despite Glasses Brickell or other corrective measures, you’ll medically qualify for disability bene@its.

The second listing is Section 2.03—contraction of the visual @ield in the better eye. You’ll meet this listing if you have medical evidence proving one of the following:

• You can’t see farther than 20 degrees around a @ixated, point, OR

• You have an MD score of 22 decibels or greater

• You have a visual ef@iciency @ield score of 20% or less

The third listing is lost of visual ef@iciency. There are two ways to qualify under this Blue Book listing:

• You have a visual ef@iciency percentage of 20 or less despite best correction, OR

• You have a visual impairment value of 1.00 or greater despite best correction

It’s possible you’ll need to take additional visual evaluations to determine your test scores and see if you meet the SSA’s criteria for vision loss approval. Fortunately, the entire Blue Book is available online so you can review the listings with your optometrist to determine if you’re eligible for assistance.

Other Considerations

It’s important to keep in mind that the SSA asks that you meet one of the above listings “despite best correction,” meaning that if your vision improves dramatically when you wear glasses or Contacts Lens Miami, you will not be eligible for Social Security disability bene@its. The SSA also takes all its evaluations based on your best eye’s vision, meaning that people who are only blind in one eye will not be eligible for bene@its.

Starting Your Application

The easiest way to apply is online on the SSA’s website. The SSA’s website was designed knowing that people with vision loss would need to apply so text readers should be able to help you complete the paperwork, but if you’re unable to do so you can always have a family member apply on your behalf. Additionally, you can apply in person at your closest Social Security of@ice. Make an appointment to apply in person by calling the SSA toll free at 1-800-772-1213.

It’ll take three to @ive months to hear back from the SSA regarding your claim. Once approved, you should be eligible for Medicare within 24 months.

Sources Cited:

SSA’s Blue Book: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/ AdultListings.htm?src=gsn100

Blue Book Listing 2.03: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/ 2.00-SpecialSensesandSpeech-Adult.htm – 2_03

SSA’s Vision Loss Criteria: https://[email protected]/social-securitydisabling-conditions/vision-loss

List of SSA Of@ice Locations: https://[email protected]/state-socialsecurity-disability

SSA’s Online Application: https://secure.ssa.gov/iClaim/dib