Ali Salimi | November 5, 2024 | Personal Injury

What-Are-the-Top-10-Disabilities?

An estimated 70 million Americans live with a disability. Most rely on disability benefits for financial support, including: 

  • Short-term disability insurance
  • Long-term disability insurance
  • Workers’ compensation for work-related injuries and illnesses
  • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Veterans Affairs (VA) for service-connected disabilities

Disabilities can be short-term or long-term. Social Security programs (SSI and SSDI) only cover long-term disabilities. Short-term disabilities are usually covered by disability insurance offered through an employer. 

Here are the most common disabilities that qualify for short-term and long-term disabilities. 

What Qualifies For Short-Term Disability?

Short-term disability (STD) insurance covers temporary medical conditions that prevent you from working. STD insurance generally does not cover work-related injuries or illnesses. It covers temporary disability while the patient is recovering from surgery.

Here are the top 10 short-term disabilities based on total claims in 2019.

  1. Pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery
  2. Musculoskeletal system disorders (e.g., back pain, arthritis, and joint disorders)
  3. Injuries (e.g., fractures and soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains)
  4. Mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., severe depression)
  5. Digestive system disorders. This includes conditions affecting the kidneys, liver, digestive tract, or esophagus.
  6. Neoplasms or tumors. Breast, genitourinary, and digestive cancers are the leading causes of short-term disability claims.
  7. Genitourinary system disorders. Common conditions in STD claims include kidney stones, acute endometriosis, and ovarian cysts.
  8. Circulatory system diseases (e.g., stroke and heart attack)
  9. Respiratory system diseases (e.g., pneumonia and COPD)
  10. Nervous system disorders (e.g., neuropathy)

About 5% of working adults in the U.S. experience a short-term disability every year. Coverage usually lasts for up to six months. 

What Medical Conditions Qualify For Long-Term Disability?

Long-term disability (LTD) insurance covers you when you cannot work for an extended period of time. The definition of a covered disability varies by policy. However, these are the ten most common types of long-term disabilities: 

  1. Musculoskeletal disorders. E.g., back pain, amputation, osteoporosis, and soft tissue injuries like severe burns
  2. Nervous system disorders. E.g., cerebral palsy, hearing loss, and vision loss
  3. Neoplasms or tumors. E.g., breast cancer, prostate cancer, acute leukemia, myelofibrosis, and lymphoma
  4. Circulatory system disorders. E.g., heart failure, heart attack, coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease
  5. Injuries. Motor vehicle accidents like car accidents or truck crashes are leading causes of disabling injuries. Other causes include falls, work-related accidents, assault, and accidents at home.
  6. Mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders. E.g., schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders, intellectual disabilities, and dementia
  7. Respiratory system disorders. E.g., COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic pulmonary insufficiency
  8. Genitourinary system disorders. E.g., kidney failure and endometriosis
  9. Pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum
  10. Digestive system disorders. E.g., colitis, cirrhosis, liver disease, and inflammatory bowel disease

Most LTD policies define disability with an “own occupation” or “any occupation” definition. “Own occupation” covers you if you can no longer perform your regular occupation. With the “any occupation” definition, you are only covered if you cannot perform the duties of any job.

The Social Security Administration maintains a “Blue Book” or “Listing of Impairments.” This provides details about conditions that qualify for disability. SSDI or SSI benefits require a condition that severely limits your ability to work. The condition must be expected to last for at least one year or result in death.

Signs That You Will Be Approved For Disability

Even the best Social Security disability lawyers will warn you that your claim may be denied. Only about 20% of initial SSDI claims are approved. Most claims need to be appealed. Common reasons for denial include inadequate documentation and missing deadlines. 

The following are signs that you are likely to be approved for disability: 

  • You have consistent medical documentation that details your condition, treatments, and limitations
  • You have impairments or a diagnosis that matches the SSA “Listing of Impairments”
  • You have limited work skills or education
  • You are over 50 years old
  • You have enough work credits when applying for SSDI
  • You have evidence from your former employer that you can no longer perform your job 

Are you ready to file a disability application? Or has your application been denied? At The Auto Accident Attorneys Group, we are here to help.

The Auto Accident Attorneys Group Can Help

The Auto Accident Attorneys Group is here to guide you through the complex application or appeals process. We will help you gather evidence, represent you at your hearing, and file any appeals. We’ll work to ensure your claim shows the full extent of your disability.

If you’re searching for “disability lawyers near me,” reach out to us for a free consultation. We can review your case, help strengthen your application, and discuss your options.

Contact the Personal Injury Lawyer of The Auto Accident Attorneys Group for Help Today

For more information, please contact an experienced lawyer at The Auto Accident Attorneys Group to schedule a free initial consultation today.

The Auto Accident Attorneys Group
1454 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30062, United States
(866) 220-1490