How to Get Dyslexia Disability Insurance

We spend a huge portion of our adult lives working. We plan our lives around work and often our job title defines who we are. But sometimes, medical problems, physical and mental, prevent us from doing our jobs the way we would like. Fortunately, the U.S. government has programs in place designed to help those who find themselves unable to work due to medical conditions. At first, the application process may seem daunting, but if you have a severe and persistent condition like dyslexia, the Social Security Administration's disability benefits may be your saving grace.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Know the law and terminology. If you are unable to work because of a physical or mental condition, you should attempt to claim Social Security Disability benefits. This is very different than if you were injured on the job and cannot work. Then, you would be drawing disability pay from your employer. If your condition was caused by your workplace environment, speak with your human resources representative about claiming disability pay.

2. Determine your eligibility. The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has guidelines for determining if you are eligible for benefits. According to the Social Security Disability guidelines, there are three basic questions you must answer with a yes to qualify: Am I unable to do the work I did before? Am I unable to adjust to different work due to my condition? Is the disability expected to last more twelve months or more? If you answer "yes" to these questions, you can begin seeking disability benefits. There is no guarantee that you will be eligible--you have simply fulfilled the minimum requirements.

3. Decide what kind of benefits you will be seeking. Depending on how much you have worked, and therefore how much you have paid into Social Security, you may not be eligible Social Security Disability Insurance and may have to apply for Supplemental Security Income, which is based on financial need and may be less favorable than regular Disability Insurance. Each year, you receive a statement from the SSA outlining your contributions to Social Security so far. Refer to this statement or contact the SSA to determine for which benefits you are eligible.

4. Document your condition with a doctor. Have your doctor or mental health provider diagnose you with dyslexia. You must obtain a statement saying that you have this condition and that it is severe. If necessary, you may need to see a specialist. Keep all of your paperwork and get all of your doctor's diagnoses and opinions in writing. You will need these to prove your disability later.

5. Document your condition's impact on your work. Record days where work became impossible due to your condition. Obtain an official copy of your job duties from your supervisor and document each time you are unable to fulfill these duties due to your dyslexia. If you are unable to make it to work because of your condition, record it. In short, keep as detailed a record as possible of how dyslexia prevents you from doing your job effectively.

6. Once you have gathered and organized all of your information, it is time to apply for disability benefits. The U.S. government makes it easy to appl--you can apply online, by phone or in person at a SSA office. All of the relevant addresses and numbers can be found on the SSA website. See the Resources section for a link.

Tips & Warnings

• Be meticulous in your recordkeeping. The more prepared you are, the more likely you are to be successful in your requests for aid. Be polite in all of your conversations pertaining to your case. You never know who might be an influential in the dispersal of benefits.
• Do not falsify medical records or exaggerate your claims of disability. It may come back to haunt you.

Resources

• SSA's disablity planner