When Does Social Security See Sciatica as a Disability in Georgia and Nationwide?
Social Security keeps a list of impairments that qualify for disability benefits, often known as its “blue book.” Sciatica isn’t specifically listed.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t qualify for SSDI or SSI with sciatica.
You might meet the standards of listing 1.15, covering spinal disorders involving nerve problems. The listing requires extensive medical imaging and exam reports.
Regardless of what route you take to qualify for benefits, you will need to meet the SSA’s general definition of disability—being unable to work a substantial amount for 12 months or longer.
A measurement known as your “residual functional capacity,” or RFC, will be crucial here.
This tells Social Security about what you can still do despite your sciatica symptoms, giving claims reviewers an idea of whether there is some kind of job you could perform.
Your RFC assessment answers questions like:
- How long can you sit or stand?
- How far can you walk?
- Can you stoop, crouch or crawl?
- Can you type, grasp small objects or perform other actions that require fine motor control?
- Can you push or pull objects?
- How much can you lift and carry?
- Can you concentrate?
- Can you understand information, remember facts and apply them to work tasks?
- Can you make decisions and judgments as you go through your day?
- Can you interact well with others?
- Can you manage your emotions and behavior?
Your doctor may provide your RFC evaluation. When you talk to them, be specific about your symptoms. Don’t just say, “I can’t sit for long.” Instead, give details: “I can sit for 10 minutes before experiencing pain and numbness, and I have to change positions.”
Sciatica can be a distraction that affects your mental capacity. Be clear about how your pain makes it difficult to complete tasks on time, interact with customers or collaborate with coworkers.
The more information you give, the more convincing you can make your disability claim.
Our Georgia disability attorneys can help you describe your symptoms and how they make working impossible for you, even in a desk job not known to be physically demanding.
What Kind of Evidence Do I Need for a Sciatica Disability Claim?
Every disability claim requires evidence, but it’s especially important to offer plenty of objective evidence—from medical sources and not just your own reports of what you feel—when you claim disability for sciatica.
Because this ailment isn’t specifically mentioned in Social Security’s list of impairments, and many people with pain and numbness from sciatica continue to work, you’ll need to build a special case for the severity of your condition.
You do this with evidence. If you don’t have enough to back up your claim, you’re likely to get denied benefits.
Gather forms of evidence like these:
- A diagnosis from a specialist
- Imaging results, like CT and MRI scans
- Results of nerve conduction studies
- Your doctor’s assessment of your functional limitations
- A list of prescription medications you use, their dosages and their effects and side effects
- Information about treatments you’ve tried (physical therapy, steroid injections, surgery, etc.) and their effectiveness
- Evidence that your symptoms required special accommodations at work
- Evidence of disruptions to your work, like frequent missed days
- Statements from friends, family, neighbors and coworkers who have witnessed your health struggles firsthand
Getting all of this organized is a chore, especially if you’ve seen multiple doctors and tried different things to treat your pain for years.
The Georgia disability lawyers at Silver & Archibald can walk through your medical history with you and help you gather the evidence you need to build a strong sciatica disability claim.
We’ll focus on building your claim. You focus on your health.
Can I Work While Applying for Disability Benefits for Sciatica?
Pain from sciatica can come and go. You may not be able to consistently work a full-time job and support yourself because of your symptoms, but what about working part-time?
Can you work a small amount and get disability benefits?
Possibly, but you need to be careful. If you work too much, or at a job that’s too demanding, Social Security will think you could do more and support yourself.
You need to understand a measurement known as “substantial gainful activity,” or SGA. SGA is a Social Security definition of how much work is too much for disability benefits.
Social Security sets a monthly amount you can earn from work and still be eligible for disability benefits.
Work and earn more than the SGA amount, before taxes and other deductions, and you may be denied disability.
Talk to a Georgia disability lawyer before you try to work part-time when applying for benefits.
How Our Georgia Disability Lawyers Can Help You
Answering questions about part-time work and gathering evidence aren’t the only things that the disability attorneys of Silver & Archibald can do.
We’ll guide you through this entire disability claims process. Getting disability benefits is personal, so we treat each of our clients with the personal attention they deserve.
We can help you:
- Fill out SSA application forms
- Avoid common mistakes that result in denials
- Talk to your doctors about your symptoms and collect the medical evidence you need
- Answer questions you have about Social Security Disability benefits
- Identify specific job duties your sciatica prohibits
- Stay informed about important deadlines
- Keep you updated on the status of your claim
- Appeal if your initial application for benefits gets denied
- Prepare for a disability hearing in front of an administrative law judge (ALJ)
Getting disability benefits for sciatica won’t be easy, but we’ll be there with you each step of the way.
Our Athens disability lawyers know the system. We know the local Georgia Social Security offices, health care facilities and judges.
We help people in Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta and across the state get support for a better life.
Get to Know Silver & Archibald Disability Attorneys
Legal cases involving your health struggles are highly personal matters. When you’re looking for help, you want someone who treats you with the personal care, respect, and dignity this moment requires.
Answers to Common Questions About Social Security Disability
Social Security Disability is a huge program with a vast set of rules. As a resource for you as you sort out your disability claim, the disability lawyers at Silver & Archibald have prepared answers to some of the most common questions people have.
Common Disability Benefits Questions »
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