Social Security Disability Income and Deaf People
Monday August 11, 2008
When the news reported that unemployment had hit a six-year high, I decided it was the right time to do this article. What if you are deaf and have recently lost your job? Aside from unemployment insurance (which has time limits), you can apply for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI).
Readers, I know that some of you will be wondering if having or getting a cochlear implant will affect your ability to qualify for SSDI. I could not find anything official regarding cochlear implants or hearing aids, and SSDI. From what I have read in unofficial sources, it appears that having an implant or hearing aids does not affect a person's qualifications with regard to SSDI. Does anyone have any official sources to recommend that can answer this question?
Comments
it should not
take off the cochlear, what happens ? badabing - DEAF
SSDI is for those who have more than just deafness to qualify. IF you are just deaf, then it is SSI
Reason: SSDI has strigent rules, you must prove you cannot work for more than 6 months with doctor’s note
I applied for SSI before starting college at NTID. I did not qualify. Why? Because deafness is evaluated on a case-by-case basis for SSI and they said I can function in a job with minimal assistance (which can be provided by ADA or through VR).
Deb, I have in the past received both SSI and SSDI. I am just Deaf, no other disabilities. I never had to provide a Doctor’s note, other than an audiogram.
Many places will reject your SSI application if you can talk, no matter how bad or good your hearing is.
it varies with ss offices. some just approve everyone. some just like to give you hard time.
many deaf could not get ssi or ssdi at a ss certain office. so they went to a different office in a different city. bingo they got approved for it.
for your information, i am working full-time. i am not on ssi or ssdi.
If you get denied SSI because you can talk, then the solution is - to not talk, let them think you can’t talk.
I have been employed as a legal assistant for twenty years. I would think to qualify for any social security, you must literally, be unable to work. Severely obese people qualify. Deaf people “can work” - but who in the hell is going to hire a deaf person!!! The solutions are: (1) look for employment that doesn’t require communication (good luck); (2) get a damn good disabilities attorney to do the work to qualify you for social security. It is very rare for someone to qualify for social security without “real obvious reasons”.
Anyone who is deaf should qualify for social security disability. Get an attorney to handle it.
Mary/Merle, I’m confused by your comment… you say that “to qualify for any social security, you must literally, be unable to work.” and you also say “Anyone who is deaf should qualify for social security disability.” There are many deaf people who are able to work. So, perhaps I’m confused, but it seems like the two statements conflict with each other? Can you clarify?
I’ve actually have done evaluations to determine readiness for Cochlear Implants because these individuals would like to go and get a job. Most of those individuals has lost their hearing (sudden/gradually) and now is unable to communicate effectively as a result of their deafness.
Rox;
It’s simple… it’s not about us being able to work. It’s opportunities, dear girl. Lack of opportunities is a disability in itself.
I have two grandchildren who are deaf and have co implants each has one.They are on SSI.there mom had no trouble getting them on it.We did it when they were young and before the implants but they know they have implants and there is no problem.
After helping several friends that have gotten on SSI here in Missouri i have found out they usually turn you down the first time get a lawyer and dont give up. hang in there and keep trying
Yes you can get disability for deafness, and the rules have changed for Social Security, but not for deafness. It definately has changed for those with drug and alcohol addictions, which they no longer qualify. It must impair your ability to work, and deafness sure does. Also, years ago, Social Security got excited about Cochlear implants, about to FORCE those with deafness on Social Security to get one. Well guess what? That didn’t work out so well simply because some of us ended up having more problems after getting a coclear implant. In fact, like the other said, once you take off the processor, you can’t hear. I don’t know how many times I had to go for a remapping because the last remapping was so bad, I was better off not wearing the processor. Also, deafness hurts more than one life area, not just work (social, psychological, etc.). This qualifies as a disability and it is common sense that deafness is a severe disability that will result in death (according to the words used by SSA).
Thanks to Thomas Paine in his Rights of Man, we have an income here for us when we need it.
In order to have a chance to get Social Securiy (SS) you must plan and have absolute proff of your disability. I started in August 2006 gathering all doctor records and meeting with an SS Attorney (no mcharge) to see what test SS is looking for to prove your case. I was employed as an Account Executive and had been with my company for over 35 years. I could no longer do the job due to my hearing. I have servere to profound hearing loss. My speach is still good, I wear 2 hearing aids. I also have Tinnitus, Hyperacusis and dysfunctional Eustachian Tubes. Due to these disabilities I also have secondary depression. I had been to at least 5 doctors and all auditorygram to prove my cases but the Attorney said that was not enough. I needed 2 more absolute test. The first test I took was a Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emmissions test (DPOAE). You do nothing during this test. Its mainley used to test babies and small children to see if they have an hearing loss. The second test was an Auditory Brainstem Response test. You do nothing on this test too. The Audiologist hooks wires in certain places of your body and inserts microphones into each ear. The lights are turned off and the test beginss. I was tested between 2,000 to 4,000 freg.. She immeted sound up into the 90 db range. The test results were servere to profound hearing loss. This was an absolute test. I went back to the Attorney. She replied that Ihad a good chance of getting SS on the first. I went to my employer 3 months and let them know my plans. The company worked great with me. I won 6 months of Short term disability (STD). I left the company in August, 2007. I went to the SS office and filed 2 weeks later. I took all of the doctors information and test with me. I was approved for SS 24 days. latter. When my STD ran our in February, 2008 I won Long Term Disabilty that stated in February, 2008.
I hope the information I have shared will be of benefit to those applying for Social Security. I wish you all well. Joe
I have been classified for years as a deaf person. I have had minnears disease all my life. I have balance issues. I can’t clearly hear voice and rarely use the phone. I went to Gallaudet and have always had problems with my hearing. I had been on disability for some time and recently I received a letter from SS telling me that I no longer qualified. I appealed and am going through the whole evaluation all over again. Upon completion of my hearing test by an audiologist, they say there is a big difference from my first testing years ago and now. Now they say I am not deaf and my tests are not consistent. I have to re-take the audiology portion again plus an MRI and some newfangled test on my brain stem. I feel very frustrated and felt like I was some kind of criminal or something. What is wrong with me? The insinuation feels as though I am interpreting their evaluation of me as not being honest. How can I have been deaf one minute and now they say my hearing shows too many inconsistencies between one portion of the test not agreeing with the other. I feel just awful and like I was some kind of pariah… Am I going to get in trouble here or something? I am so confused and don’t know what to make of this situation! When I was growing up I was treated as someone with a hearing problem. I was raised mostly in a hearing culture… Then later I immersed myself into the deaf culture… Now I am feeling classified as a hearing person again. I am going crazy! So depressed!
I have been trying to get my ssi benefits for nearly 2 years and are sill waiting Its hard for the admistration to find deaf folks need contant accomoidation now being a machine operator all my adult life and and was tols by ssi that I should aviod concentrated noise and vibration from there assesment leaves me hardley any opportunity to gain substantial work.I think that the powewrs that be feel we should give up any dignity because were disabeld..
HoH (Moderate/Severe hearing loss) I’m just starting on the road and already running in to problems on day one for SSI. I’d love to hire an attorney to all this leg work but I simply can’t afford it. If anyone has any advice or recommendations, please post.
After being laid off 6 months ago, moving to a larger city, and now finding jobs won’t hire (economy or just my ADA?).
Day 1: Finally got a telephone interview for SSI, and with my friend/translator, only to be put on hold for over an hour (hung up after that). Then finding out (by voicemail) that they called back while we were on hold to reschedule. — sucks, wasted time.
Hearing loss is a disability, just like loosing a hand or a limb. Yes, you can try to find a productive job, but for many of us, there are very few offering positions/chances.
The law assistant who posted it is not always true…I don’t get it at all. If I were blind I would be eligible for SSDI. Lucky me I am now profoundly deaf. As a youth due to my autoimmune cancerous disease, which caused the deafness I received SSI my entire life. So I’m catastrophically ill and deaf today. Then idiot I am I decided to do one single EASY thing in life and be happy guess what folks, I got married two years ago and bye to SSI and bye to Medicaid. I got on my husband’s insurance but what good is that if it doesn’t cover much and tack on copays of everything meds, hospitalizations, hearing aids, treatments, labwork, x-rays and more. Anyway the only way as an adult child with total and permanent disability a IF they can qualify for SSDI is under your parents earning work credit BUT they have to also be receiving their SS now, be retired or be deceased. My parents are alive and both will be working for another 10 years at least in this economy. Again if I were blind I would have both. Now tell me please how is that right? Now should I get divorced then I would get the SSI (what is that a measly $674 a month now and in today’s time what the heck will that do?) and Medicaid (again what do they REALLY cover anymore for adults?) again, however not now because they base it on your spouse’s income and heaven forbid that person earns above the poverty line you are a SOL. Basically what they told me was to get divorced down at SS. For the record I spent the farm to go to college and earn two masters degrees, interned, volunteered, worked (for nothing!)my bum off, but that has not helped a single employer to take a single chance on me and anyone who is like me. We ARE underemployed and it is NOT by choice. We are NOT sitting around for a hand out here, but how the heck are we as a population going to survive if we can’t get hired and we don’t qualify for any financial or medical benefits?
Forgot to add re: don’t talk that has nothing to do with it. Sure you usually have to jump through fire to begin with getting anything from SS but A LOT of deaf DO talk, so that really is a small thing if it is anything to worry about.
Cochlear implants ahh my other “favorite” subject. When will idiots relaize one size doesn’t fit all. You don’t “hear’ people tlel psych patients hey take this pill and it will fix all your woes. No not one size, pill or idea works for all. I cannot have it done I am not a candidate due to my illness. And even if people do get it done it also is not surefire to work! And “caring” people think it is like Lasik where you suddenly regain your hearing so they tell you what you need to be going out and buying and have you checked the price tag on them even with insurance folks? And that the chance is 50-50 it will even work for you? Wake up World, um no cochlear recipients are still deaf.
As far as the poster who admits to being depressed. I feel for you been there had that now I am just p*ssed off. I am tired of seeing people struggle who should be. I am tird of being one of them.
I have had to have hearing aids since I was in 6th grade. I am now 47. I am realizing that on my job I am coming to a crossroad where my ability to communicate is severely causing problems with my ability to safely perform my position or possibly any position fo that matter. I talked to my family and they think that even though I have worked full time for most of my life that maybe I should consider applying for SSI. I am afraid they will turn me down. I feel fortunate that I have been able to accomplish in my life an incredible amount of love and happiness. I just feel I am like a safety hazard waiting to happen. I need to swallow some of my pride and tell someone the truth so that there is never an opportunity that I would hurt someone else or myself because I can’t admit how deaf I really am.
I am 44 and have profound hearing loss in both ears as well as severe tinnitus, it has been slowly getting worse and has reached the point that my job is starting to become very difficult. I communicate with co-workers and customers as part of my job(career for 20 years) hearing aids do not help and i have the latest and best versions available. I have STD and LTD from my employer but had hoped that SSI would be an option as well. what i am reading here tells me it may be a very long uphill battle. being a skilled tradesman all my life with no administrative experience will make it very difficult to find a job without hearing and communications capabilities. even fast food joints need people who can hear.