How to Get Social Security Disability for Back Pain in Wisconsin

Back Conditions that Can Qualify for Disability Benefits

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes multiple types of back injury and back impairment that can qualify you for disability benefits.

These are some of the specific, diagnosed back conditions that Social Security lists and offers guidelines on what you must show to get benefits:

• Degenerative disc disease

• Fractures caused by disorders that weaken bones

• Herniated disc

• Lower back nerve pinching (lumbar spinal stenosis)

• Neck disorders (cervical spine)

• Nerve root compression

• Osteoarthritis of the spine (spondylosis)

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Vertebrae dislocation

• Vertebrae fracture

• Vertebrae slipping (spondylolisthesis)

Your back problem, however, doesn’t have to be named on Social Security’s list for you to get disability benefits.

If your back pain, whatever its cause, limits your ability to function, you may still be able to get benefits.

Social Security will look at what it calls your “residual functional capacity” or RFC.

That is an evaluation by your doctor of how much and what type of physical exertion you can handle considering your back pain.

Your disability lawyer can help you get this information together. To learn more about what you individually may need for your disability claim for back pain, talk us at Geary Disability Law.

How to Prove Your Back Pain Qualifies for Social Security Disability

To be approved for benefits, you must provide Social Security evidence of your back condition and its severity.

Social Security is strict about the information you send in, even saying that, “Your statements about your pain or other symptoms will not alone establish that you are disabled.”

Instead of your own word for it, Social Security wants what it calls “objective medical evidence.” These are several forms of this evidence:

• Details of medications you take
• Medical imaging results, including x-rays, CT scans and MRIs
• Measurements of how your back condition weakens your muscles
• Laboratory test results
• Physical exam reports from doctors
• Reports from health care providers on the results of treatment
• Reports from medical providers on why you need an assistive device
• Reports on operations you’ve had

Something Social Security will look for in multiple types of documentation you submit are indications that your back pain has lasted for an extended time.

Sometimes you also can submit one form of non-medical evidence: Statements from others who personally know you about how your back impairment has impacted your daily life.

You can avoid mistakes and lighten your burden in putting together your case for disability benefits for back pain by getting a Wisconsin disability attorney to handle the heavy work.

If you’re a Wisconsinite trying to get disability benefits for back conditions, knowing someone capable is taking care of your claim can be a major relief.

Let us help you work toward finding financial support and stability.