Potentially, yes! Found on the Pennsylvanian Department of Labor and Industry website, someone will be considered disabled for the purpose of Social Security disability benefit if they are, “unable to do any substantial work due to (his or her) medical condition”. If a worker has a medical condition that keeps them from sustainable and substantial work for longer than a year, then the worker will be eligible to receive social security disability.
However, if a diagnosis of an essential tremor stems from a work-related injury or environment, a worker may be eligible to receive a “partially disabled” denotation and be awarded accordingly through workers’ compensation. This benefit will trigger after only a week of inability if the tremor is severe enough to affect a worker’s typical job. Money may come in two weeks following the initial report.
When Essential Tremor Qualifies for Social Security Disability Benefits
Because the symptoms of essential tremor range from the minor to the severe, you'll need medical documentation to prove that your tremors are disabling and keeping you from working. Your work history will also need to meet the standards set by the Social Security Administration. Our firm can help with both; for decades, we have helped people get the SSDI benefits they deserved, helping them cope with their disabilities with financial support. Our attorneys can make sure you have enough evidence to successfully claim benefits for your tremors.
Some of the symptoms of essential tremors that would be relevant include:
- Inability to walk without a cane
- Inability to write or type
- Worsening tremors under stress
- Difficulty carrying a moderate weight
In order to qualify, you have to prove that you're unable to make $1,200 a month for a year or longer (if you've been unable to work for some time now, count that toward your 12-month total). You'll also need to prove that you're unable to work at a desk job.
Exertional & Non-Exertional Limitations
In order to be approved for SSDI benefits, the Social Security Administration will write a report called the "residual functional capacity assessment" (RFC), which is essentially a report on how much work you can handle doing on a full-time basis. One category of your capabilities falls under "exertional activities," which are strength-related and include lifting, carrying, walking, and standing.
However, the RFC also includes non-exertional abilities, which include:
- Problems handling or holding objects
- Problems with climbing or crouching
- Problems with nervousness, anxiety, or depression
- Problems with concentration or focus
If You Can’t Work, It’s Time to Call an Attorney
You or a loved one who is suffering from a work-related essential tremor may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in addition to your Social Security Disability benefits. A workers' comp lawyer would be able to help you apply for every source of relief available to you.
Relief through workers’ compensation or Social Security could include coverage for:
- Treatment costs
- Lost wages
- Transportation costs
- Other associated expenses
Timing is key to being awarded workers' compensation for any disability you may have received from a work-related injury. If you believe that you are currently suffering from a work-related injury such as essential tremors and qualify for workers' compensation, please contact our Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorneys right away for a free evaluation of your case. We will do everything we can to get you the benefit that you may deserve, so call today!
We serve injured workers from offices in Harrisburg, Hanover, Carlisle, York, and Lancaster.