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Social Security Disability

Know your benefits

Visit the U.S. government website for information about social security disability by clicking here.

Under code 11.06, Parkinson’s disease is a covered benefit. It is defined as: Parkinsonian syndrome with the following signs: significant rigidity, bradykinesia, or tremor in two extremities, which, singly or in combination, result in sustained disturbance of gross and dexterous movements, or gait and station.

There is a five-step process when determining if someone with Parkinson’s disease qualifies for SSDI:

1. Determine if an individual is "working (engaging in substantial gainful activity)" according to the SSA definition. Earning more than $1,000 a month as an employee is enough to be disqualified from receiving social security disability benefits.
2. Conclude the Parkinson's disease disability must be severe enough to significantly limit one’s ability to perform basic work activities needed to do most jobs. For example:
   • Walking, standing, sitting, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, carrying or handling
   • Seeing, hearing and speaking
   • Understanding/carrying out and remembering simple instructions
   • Responding appropriately to supervision, co-workers and usual work situations
   • Dealing with changes in a routine work settin
3. Parkinson’s is listed under the category of impairments known as neurological. If the following criteria are met, an individual is found to be disabled under the Social Security as meeting a medical listing: significant rigidity, bradykinesia, or tremor in two extremities, which, singly or in combination, result in disturbance of gross and dexterous movements, or gait and station. An individual who has the preceding clinical findings and has a diagnosis of Parkinson’s will be found to meet medical listing 11.06. An individual who has similar findings with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s may be found to “medically equate” the aforementioned medical listing.
4. Explore the ability of an individual to perform work they have done in the past despite their Parkinson's disease. If the SSA finds that a person can do his past work, benefits are denied. If the person cannot, then the process proceeds to the fifth and final step.
5. Review age, education, work experience and physical/mental condition to determine what other work, if any, the person can perform. To determine Parkinson's disease disability, the SSA enlists medical-vocational rules, which vary according to age.

Medicare

Medicare can be tricky to figure out. Be sure to visit the government’s official webpage on Medicare by clicking here.

Medicare prescription drug coverage, also known as Medicare Part D, is insurance that covers both brand-name and generic prescription drugs. The prescription drug benefit coverage is provided through third-party companies, known as Prescription Drug Plans (PDP). Coverage is available to those beneficiaries who choose to enroll in a PDP, meet the deductible, and pay a monthly premium. Medicare will then pay for part of the cost of those drugs that are on the chosen plan's drug formulary. Every year, Medicare beneficiaries have the opportunity to enroll in or change their PDP. The Annual Enrollment Period for Part D runs from November 15 to December 31. Coverage then starts in January. Individuals who are already in a plan should decide whether it will be right for them in the coming year; if they do not switch they will remain in their current plans. All plans have different costs and benefits from year to year. It is crucial for all beneficiaries to carefully review their options and make the best choices for the coming year.