Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Do Disability Benefits Work?What Disability Benefits Are Available for MS?When to Stop WorkingSocial Security CriteriaTips for ApplyingFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How Do Disability Benefits Work?
What Disability Benefits Are Available for MS?
When to Stop Working
Social Security Criteria
Tips for Applying
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Multiple Sclerosis?
To apply for MS benefits, a person must meet specific criteria. The criteria handbook is known as the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Blue Book Listing. The SSA’s Blue Book Listing for MS is 11.09, and states that a person qualifies if they have certain physical and cognitive limitations that make it difficult for them to maintain steady and meaningful employment.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
Disability benefits are provided to people with conditions that lead to an inability to work for at least one year. For someoneto qualifyfor the benefits, their illness must meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of a disability.
The system operates under a credit system. What that means is that when a person is healthy and working, they earn credits for the income they earn that can go toward Social Security Disability Benefits in the future if they ever develop a chronic disease. According to the Social Security Administration, people earn one credit for every $1,730 they make in income. This number varies from year to year.
The total number of credits a person can make per year is four, and it typically takes 40 credits to qualify for disability benefits. However, exceptions can be made based on age.
RecapDisability benefits are designed to take the financial pressure off of people who cannot work because they are ill. The benefits are often given on a credit system for people who have worked and paid taxes for many years.
Recap
Disability benefits are designed to take the financial pressure off of people who cannot work because they are ill. The benefits are often given on a credit system for people who have worked and paid taxes for many years.
Short-Term Disability
Long-Term Disability
Long-term disability benefits are given for people with long-term or chronic illnesses that will affect their ability to work for the foreseeable future. There are two government-funded types: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Social Security Disability Insurance is for workers who become disabled after working long enough to earn their credits. Payments from the SSDI program do not begin until a person has been disabled for at least five months, which is why short-term disability benefits are important for people with MS who cannot work.
The payments from SSDI go into effect on the sixth month of disability and remain for as long as the symptoms prevent a person from working. Since medical advancements and treatment options continue to evolve,the cases are often reevaluated in case a person’s condition has gotten better and they can work again.
RecapShort- and long-term disability is available for people with MS to help ease the financial burden of not being able to work. For people who need permanent disability benefits, short-term benefits will help bridge the gap between when you first become unable to work and when you can receive SSDI.
Short- and long-term disability is available for people with MS to help ease the financial burden of not being able to work. For people who need permanent disability benefits, short-term benefits will help bridge the gap between when you first become unable to work and when you can receive SSDI.
A person with MS should stop working when their symptoms interfere with their ability to perform on the job. The symptoms that can cause disability may vary depending on what type of MS a person has and where the lesions are on the brain or spinal cord. Types of MS include:
Not all people who have CIS will develop MS or disability.Relapsing-remitting MS may not lead to permanent disability depending on how often the symptoms come and go. Roughly 85% of people with MS have this type.
Secondary and primary progressive MS are characterized as versions of the disease that worsen over time. Both types of progressive MS can lead to severe disability.A person’s ability to work will depend largely on how their disease progresses, and there is no solid timeline for when work will become impossible.
Symptoms and Treatment for Frontal Lobe Damage
Talking to Your Employer
Prior to talking to your employer about a recent MS diagnosis, you should read theAmericans with Disabilities Act(ADA). You can learn about your rights when it comes to disclosing your illness and protecting your job security.
The only time you are legally required to tell your employer you have MS is if it interferes with your ability to perform your job, you need accommodations because of your condition, or your MS could pose a threat to safety at your workplace.
If you do wish to tell your employer about your condition or need certain accommodations, the best way to do that is to be direct and honest about your symptoms, how the condition affects you and your ability to work, and what they can do to help. Being open and honest is the best way to ensure you are given the accommodations you need.
RecapThere is no set timeline dictating when you should stop working. The severity of your symptoms will act as the best indicator that it’s time to apply for disability benefits.
There is no set timeline dictating when you should stop working. The severity of your symptoms will act as the best indicator that it’s time to apply for disability benefits.
For someone with MS to apply for Social Security, they must be experiencing:
Applying for Social Security can be done in three ways:
There is anSSA adult disability starter kitthat can help you gather all the necessary information needed to apply for the benefit. You will likely need:
Applying online will expedite the process because it eliminates the need to wait for an appointment.
For Younger Applicants
People often get diagnosed with MS between 20 and 45 years of age. Applying for Social Security benefits when you are young may be more difficult because the disease is often seen as something that worsens over time.
However, the Social Security Administration does provide leniency when it comes to how many credits are needed to apply for SSDI. For example, people who are disabled before the age of 24 need to earn only six credits in a three-year period prior to the start of their disability, and those who become disabled at age 30 are required to have only eight credits.
RecapYou can apply for disability benefits online, in person, or over the phone. Younger applicants may have a more difficult time qualifying, but there are regulations in place to ensure that no matter how old you are, you can still gain access to Social Security benefits if your condition prevents you from working.
You can apply for disability benefits online, in person, or over the phone. Younger applicants may have a more difficult time qualifying, but there are regulations in place to ensure that no matter how old you are, you can still gain access to Social Security benefits if your condition prevents you from working.
Summary
Applying for Social Security benefits for MS is possible if the condition prevents you from performing your job. Since some forms of MS come and go and others worsen over time, it can be helpful to know what type of disability benefits are best for you and whether you can talk to your employer about accommodations so that you can continue to work.
A Word From Verywell
Having MS can be difficult to cope with, but many people live and work with the condition for many years. Just because you have been diagnosed with MS does not mean that you have to stop working. If you do have to apply for MS disability benefits, it’s important to remember that there is no shame in doing so.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt depends on the severity of your symptoms. Some people with MS qualify for disability benefits if it interferes with their ability to work. If symptoms do not hinder your ability to work, you will probably not qualify.According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, approximately 40% of people with MS in the United States receive disability benefits.MS is a progressive disease. It’s likely that many of them continued to be able to work with MS for many years before they needed to apply for disability.It can be, but not everyone with MS experiences symptoms that prevent them from working or caring for themselves. Many people with MS live well into their 70s, with only some experiencing a severely decreased quality of life as they age.Although not everyone will experience MS the same way, one common characterization is movement issues. People with MS may have symptoms such as loss of balance, unstable walking, tremors, and muscle tightness.The amount of disability benefits each person receives varies based on the amount of money they made while they were working. A calculation formula referred to as the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) is used to determine the benefit.
It depends on the severity of your symptoms. Some people with MS qualify for disability benefits if it interferes with their ability to work. If symptoms do not hinder your ability to work, you will probably not qualify.
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, approximately 40% of people with MS in the United States receive disability benefits.MS is a progressive disease. It’s likely that many of them continued to be able to work with MS for many years before they needed to apply for disability.
It can be, but not everyone with MS experiences symptoms that prevent them from working or caring for themselves. Many people with MS live well into their 70s, with only some experiencing a severely decreased quality of life as they age.
Although not everyone will experience MS the same way, one common characterization is movement issues. People with MS may have symptoms such as loss of balance, unstable walking, tremors, and muscle tightness.
The amount of disability benefits each person receives varies based on the amount of money they made while they were working. A calculation formula referred to as the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) is used to determine the benefit.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vijayasingham L, Mairami FF.Employment of patients with multiple sclerosis: the influence of psychosocial-structural coping and context.Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis.2018 Mar 26;8:15-24. doi:10.2147/DNND.S131729MedlinePlus.Multiple sclerosis.Social Security Administration.Disability Evaluation Under Social Security: 11.00 Neurological - Adult.Social Security Administration.Disability benefits: How you qualify.Social Security Administration.Benefits planner: Social security credits.University of California, San Francisco MS-EPIC Team:, Cree BA, Gourraud PA, Oksenberg JR, Bevan C, Crabtree-Hartman E, Gelfand JM, Goodin DS, Graves J, Green AJ, Mowry E, Okuda DT, Pelletier D, von Büdingen HC, Zamvil SS, Agrawal A, Caillier S, Ciocca C, Gomez R, Kanner R, Lincoln R, Lizee A, Qualley P, Santaniello A, Suleiman L, Bucci M, Panara V, Papinutto N, Stern WA, Zhu AH, Cutter GR, Baranzini S, Henry RG, Hauser SL.Long-term evolution of multiple sclerosis disability in the treatment era.Ann Neurol.2016 Oct;80(4):499-510. doi:10.1002/ana.24747Social Security Administration.What you need to know when you get social security benefits.Social Security Administration.Supplemental Security Income.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Types of MS.Miller DH, Chard DT, Ciccarelli O.Clinically isolated syndromes.Lancet Neurol.2012 Feb;11(2):157-169. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70274-5Goldenberg MM.Multiple sclerosis review.P T.2012 Mar;37(3):175-184.Dubey D, Sguigna P, Stüve O.Managing Disability in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2016 Jun;18(6):27. doi:10.1007/s11940-016-0412-7National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Know Your Rights: A Legal Guide for People Living With Multiple Sclerosis.Social Security Administration.Apply online for disability benefits.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Disability insurance.Buhse M.The Elderly Person With Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical Implications for the Increasing Life-Span.J Neurosci Nurs.2015 Dec;47(6):333-9; quiz E1. doi:10.1097/JNN.0000000000000172Cameron MH, Nilsagard Y.Balance, gait, and falls in multiple sclerosis.Handb Clin Neurol.2018;159:237-250. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63916-5.00015-XSocial Security Administration.Social Security Benefit Amounts.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Vijayasingham L, Mairami FF.Employment of patients with multiple sclerosis: the influence of psychosocial-structural coping and context.Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis.2018 Mar 26;8:15-24. doi:10.2147/DNND.S131729MedlinePlus.Multiple sclerosis.Social Security Administration.Disability Evaluation Under Social Security: 11.00 Neurological - Adult.Social Security Administration.Disability benefits: How you qualify.Social Security Administration.Benefits planner: Social security credits.University of California, San Francisco MS-EPIC Team:, Cree BA, Gourraud PA, Oksenberg JR, Bevan C, Crabtree-Hartman E, Gelfand JM, Goodin DS, Graves J, Green AJ, Mowry E, Okuda DT, Pelletier D, von Büdingen HC, Zamvil SS, Agrawal A, Caillier S, Ciocca C, Gomez R, Kanner R, Lincoln R, Lizee A, Qualley P, Santaniello A, Suleiman L, Bucci M, Panara V, Papinutto N, Stern WA, Zhu AH, Cutter GR, Baranzini S, Henry RG, Hauser SL.Long-term evolution of multiple sclerosis disability in the treatment era.Ann Neurol.2016 Oct;80(4):499-510. doi:10.1002/ana.24747Social Security Administration.What you need to know when you get social security benefits.Social Security Administration.Supplemental Security Income.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Types of MS.Miller DH, Chard DT, Ciccarelli O.Clinically isolated syndromes.Lancet Neurol.2012 Feb;11(2):157-169. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70274-5Goldenberg MM.Multiple sclerosis review.P T.2012 Mar;37(3):175-184.Dubey D, Sguigna P, Stüve O.Managing Disability in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2016 Jun;18(6):27. doi:10.1007/s11940-016-0412-7National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Know Your Rights: A Legal Guide for People Living With Multiple Sclerosis.Social Security Administration.Apply online for disability benefits.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Disability insurance.Buhse M.The Elderly Person With Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical Implications for the Increasing Life-Span.J Neurosci Nurs.2015 Dec;47(6):333-9; quiz E1. doi:10.1097/JNN.0000000000000172Cameron MH, Nilsagard Y.Balance, gait, and falls in multiple sclerosis.Handb Clin Neurol.2018;159:237-250. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63916-5.00015-XSocial Security Administration.Social Security Benefit Amounts.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Vijayasingham L, Mairami FF.Employment of patients with multiple sclerosis: the influence of psychosocial-structural coping and context.Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis.2018 Mar 26;8:15-24. doi:10.2147/DNND.S131729MedlinePlus.Multiple sclerosis.Social Security Administration.Disability Evaluation Under Social Security: 11.00 Neurological - Adult.Social Security Administration.Disability benefits: How you qualify.Social Security Administration.Benefits planner: Social security credits.University of California, San Francisco MS-EPIC Team:, Cree BA, Gourraud PA, Oksenberg JR, Bevan C, Crabtree-Hartman E, Gelfand JM, Goodin DS, Graves J, Green AJ, Mowry E, Okuda DT, Pelletier D, von Büdingen HC, Zamvil SS, Agrawal A, Caillier S, Ciocca C, Gomez R, Kanner R, Lincoln R, Lizee A, Qualley P, Santaniello A, Suleiman L, Bucci M, Panara V, Papinutto N, Stern WA, Zhu AH, Cutter GR, Baranzini S, Henry RG, Hauser SL.Long-term evolution of multiple sclerosis disability in the treatment era.Ann Neurol.2016 Oct;80(4):499-510. doi:10.1002/ana.24747Social Security Administration.What you need to know when you get social security benefits.Social Security Administration.Supplemental Security Income.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Types of MS.Miller DH, Chard DT, Ciccarelli O.Clinically isolated syndromes.Lancet Neurol.2012 Feb;11(2):157-169. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70274-5Goldenberg MM.Multiple sclerosis review.P T.2012 Mar;37(3):175-184.Dubey D, Sguigna P, Stüve O.Managing Disability in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2016 Jun;18(6):27. doi:10.1007/s11940-016-0412-7National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Know Your Rights: A Legal Guide for People Living With Multiple Sclerosis.Social Security Administration.Apply online for disability benefits.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Disability insurance.Buhse M.The Elderly Person With Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical Implications for the Increasing Life-Span.J Neurosci Nurs.2015 Dec;47(6):333-9; quiz E1. doi:10.1097/JNN.0000000000000172Cameron MH, Nilsagard Y.Balance, gait, and falls in multiple sclerosis.Handb Clin Neurol.2018;159:237-250. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63916-5.00015-XSocial Security Administration.Social Security Benefit Amounts.
Vijayasingham L, Mairami FF.Employment of patients with multiple sclerosis: the influence of psychosocial-structural coping and context.Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis.2018 Mar 26;8:15-24. doi:10.2147/DNND.S131729
MedlinePlus.Multiple sclerosis.
Social Security Administration.Disability Evaluation Under Social Security: 11.00 Neurological - Adult.
Social Security Administration.Disability benefits: How you qualify.
Social Security Administration.Benefits planner: Social security credits.
University of California, San Francisco MS-EPIC Team:, Cree BA, Gourraud PA, Oksenberg JR, Bevan C, Crabtree-Hartman E, Gelfand JM, Goodin DS, Graves J, Green AJ, Mowry E, Okuda DT, Pelletier D, von Büdingen HC, Zamvil SS, Agrawal A, Caillier S, Ciocca C, Gomez R, Kanner R, Lincoln R, Lizee A, Qualley P, Santaniello A, Suleiman L, Bucci M, Panara V, Papinutto N, Stern WA, Zhu AH, Cutter GR, Baranzini S, Henry RG, Hauser SL.Long-term evolution of multiple sclerosis disability in the treatment era.Ann Neurol.2016 Oct;80(4):499-510. doi:10.1002/ana.24747
Social Security Administration.What you need to know when you get social security benefits.
Social Security Administration.Supplemental Security Income.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Types of MS.
Miller DH, Chard DT, Ciccarelli O.Clinically isolated syndromes.Lancet Neurol.2012 Feb;11(2):157-169. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70274-5
Goldenberg MM.Multiple sclerosis review.P T.2012 Mar;37(3):175-184.
Dubey D, Sguigna P, Stüve O.Managing Disability in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.Curr Treat Options Neurol.2016 Jun;18(6):27. doi:10.1007/s11940-016-0412-7
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Know Your Rights: A Legal Guide for People Living With Multiple Sclerosis.
Social Security Administration.Apply online for disability benefits.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Disability insurance.
Buhse M.The Elderly Person With Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical Implications for the Increasing Life-Span.J Neurosci Nurs.2015 Dec;47(6):333-9; quiz E1. doi:10.1097/JNN.0000000000000172
Cameron MH, Nilsagard Y.Balance, gait, and falls in multiple sclerosis.Handb Clin Neurol.2018;159:237-250. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63916-5.00015-X
Social Security Administration.Social Security Benefit Amounts.
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