A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can drastically change a person’s life. A blow to the head can often disrupt normal brain activities. A jolt or blow to the head can result in traumatic brain injuries that damage one’s quality of life in various ways.
This sort of damage, with its wide-ranging and severe symptoms, may make a person unable to work. If this is the case, accident victims may be eligible for disability compensation under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. To learn more, click here.
Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury
- Headache
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Speech difficulties
- Seizures
- Sensory issues like dizziness
- Extreme mood swings or mood changes
- Trouble sleeping
Is TBI a disability?
Yes, at times. Before granting a disability claim, the Social Security Administration will conduct a five-step examination of your application. This is the same approach that the SSA employs to evaluate any claim, whether it is for depression disability, back pain disability, migraine disability, or any other medical condition that makes it hard to work.
Some traumatic brain injury symptoms are minor and transient, momentarily affecting brain cells. Other injuries, such as ripped tissue, bleeding, bruising, and other physical damage to the brain, can be considerably more serious. These are the kinds of symptoms that can hinder someone from earning a livelihood through a productive job and may be permanent. Some symptoms of serious brain injury may develop immediately after an event, while others may not present for days or weeks.
Brain injuries are often categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. However, even minor brain damage is a significant condition that requires immediate medical attention and an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan. Accidents that cause traumatic brain injuries include falls, vehicle accidents, gunshot wounds, violence or abuse, athletic accidents, explosive bursts, and others. The most common cause of serious brain damage or cerebral trauma is a fall.
In addition to identifying your medical impairment the SSA must evaluate your income eligibility for Social Security disability payments. This is the non-medical portion of the assessment. Your verified earnings must not exceed program thresholds to qualify for assistance.
SSDI and SSI have certain income criteria for people applying for them. To be eligible for SSDI payments you must have previously worked and acquired sufficient work credits.
The second phase in the SSA procedure is determining the severity of an injury. You must provide proper medical proof showing your TBI is severe enough to impair or prevent your ability to execute your work to file a successful brain injury disability claim. For more information consult an experienced attorney today.
