Vision and Social Security Disability Benefits

Cook County Attorney for Social Security Disability Benefits Applications

Can I Get Social Security Disability Benefits If I Suffer From Loss Of Vision?

Loss of vision is absolutely recognized by the Social Security Administration! The Social Security Administration does not recognize particular conditions such as macular degeneration as listings; instead, they measure loss of vision resulting from those conditions. If your loss of vision meets their requirements, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits under a listing. If you do not meet a listing, but your loss of vision combined with other medical conditions is preventing you from working for at least 12 months, you may still qualify for Social Security disability benefits (whether SSDI or SSI), even if your disability application was denied.

Is There A Specific Listing For Loss Of Vision?

The Social Security Administration recognizes loss of vision under three different listings. The three vision listings are Listing of Impairments 2.02: Loss of Visual Acuity, Listing of Impairments 2.03: Contraction of the visual field in the better eye, and Listing of Impairments 2.04: Loss of visual efficiency, which can be found on the Social Security Administration website. However, because most of the listing is structured using medical terminology, it can be quite difficult to know whether you will meet any of the listings. If you or a family member suffers from loss of vision and are unable to work and want to know more about whether you might qualify for Social Security disability benefits (either SSDI or SSI), contact Pearson Disability Law, LLC at 312-999-0999.

If I Do Not Meet The Listing, Is There Another Way To Get Social Security Disability Benefits?

Yes! If you do not meet any of the listings for loss of vision, but your vision is preventing you from working, you may still qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration will proceed with your case by evaluating your Residual Functional Capacity. To do this, the Administration will determine the most amount of work that you can do despite your limitations. They do this by dividing “work” into four different categories: heavy, medium, light, and sedentary. It is worth noting that there is sometimes a fifth category that is recognized for very heavy work; however, very heavy work is scarcely used. Whether a claimant wins his or her disability claim is greatly affected by which category he or she is ultimately put into. Being put into a lower category increases the likelihood that a claim is approved for Social Security disability benefits. Social Security will also take into account specific functional limitations as a result of loss of vision. Fore example, inability to handle work hazards, inability to drive, inability to pick up on fine details, etc.