Social Security & SSI Disability Benefits: Parkinson’s Disease

Winning Your Parkinson’s Case

You or your child can win a Parkinson’s Social Security disability or SSI benefits case if two requirements are fulfilled:

1. Non-Medical Criteria, and
2. Disability Criteria.

Fulfilling the disability criteria means –

1. You understand how Social Security evaluates Parkinson’s disease (discussed on this page),
2. You satisfy the Social Security Parkinson’s Syndrome Listing (also discussed on this page) or you have disabling Functional Limitations, and
3. You Submit Winning Evidence.

Parkinson’s – Your Medical Evidence And Social Security’s Reasoning

Parkinson’s disease is a serious medical condition, but one that is infrequently adjudication by Social Security compared to other types of medical conditions. Parkinson’s disease is a nervous system disorder caused by the degeneration or death of brain neurons (nerve cells) which causes a lack of dopamine in the body. The primary symptoms are –

1. Tremors,
2. Muscle jerks,
3. Stiffness,
4. Weakness,
5. Fatigue,
6. Cognitive impairments.

Social Security always wants evidence of your Parkinson’s. It evaluates your medical evidence in determining the basis of the diagnosis. However, those suffering from Parkinson’s have a unique problem in a Social Security and SSI disability case – there is no specific test to diagnose it. Parkinson’s is diagnosed by clinical examination (observation by your doctor). Essentially, the doctor looks for the symptoms described above over a period of time. Anytime any impairment is determined not by specific testing, like Parkinson’s, but rather by the judgment of a doctor, it is important your doctor carefully documents your symptoms and justifies his diagnosis based on those symptoms. If not, Social Security may dismiss either your diagnosis or the severity of your symptoms. You would do well to obtain your medical records to see how well your doctor is describing your symptoms and establishing your diagnosis.

Social Security also evaluates your medical evidence is reviewing your ongoing medical care. Treatment for Parkinson’s includes medications that either convert to dopamine or mimic dopamine, MAO-B inhibitors that inhibit dopamine breakdown, and/or anticholinergics (helps to control tremors). Deep brain stimulation has had mixed results. The cause of Parkinson’s is unknown and there is no cure.

Social Security & SSI Parkinson’s Listing

The Adult Listing 11.06 is met if you are getting medical care and meet points 1 or 2 for three months or more:

1. An extreme limitation with both lower extremities in standing, balancing, or an extreme limitation using your upper extremities; or
2. A marked limitation in your overall physical abilities, and a marked limitation in one of –
   1. Using information,
   2. Associating with people,
   3. Keeping focus and pace, or
   4. Caring for your own needs.