When someone is seeking SSD benefits because they have a disability, they often feel alone. They feel as if they are the only person dealing with these types of issues. Everyone else they know is still able to work and live life without these limitations. In fact, this mindset can cause some people to delay applying for benefits because they don’t want to be the only ones using them.
But the reality is that many people in the United States are living with some type of disability. Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put it at about 26% or just over one out of every four Americans. In fact, this has caused them to claim that disability is something that impacts every American. You either are living with a disability yourself or you know people who are. You may even be a caretaker for someone who needs it.
The different types of disabilities
When the CDC was compiling this report, they broke disabilities down into six different categories. These are:
- Mobility issues, such as difficulty going up the stairs
- Cognitive issues, such as trouble remembering facts
- Difficulty living independently, such as not being able to run errands
- Trouble hearing, which can include deafness, but also lesser hearing difficulties
- Vision trouble, such as clinical blindness or drastically reduced vision
- Self-care issues, such as having trouble dressing or bathing oneself
Of course, it’s also possible for people to have multiple different conditions that may qualify as a disability at the same time. The CDC is not trying to limit the options so much as expose how wide-ranging they can be. Those who are interested in seeking benefits simply need to know what legal steps to take.