Severe Cognitive Dysfunction

Help For Severe Cognitive Dysfunction

Cognitive dysfunction can come from a host of other conditions: dementia, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, developmental delays and more. While many people can lead meaningful lives with these conditions, regular employment is often beyond what they are capable of. In these cases, Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits can give people the modest freedom they need to support themselves.

At Nicolet Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, our experienced attorneys can evaluate a person’s case and make recommendations for strengthening their application. While approval is not guaranteed, we will not accept payment unless we successfully win benefits. We serve clients throughout Wisconsin.

We offer free consultations to all prospective clients.

What Counts As Severe Cognitive Dysfunction?

Because so many different things can result in difficulty thinking and concentrating, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has specific guidelines on a wide variety of conditions. For instance, here are the criteria for an intellectual disability:

• The condition must be apparent before the age of 22
• The applicant must have an IQ of 70 or lower
• The applicant must have extreme difficulty with two or more of the following: remembering information, interacting with other people, concentrating, and managing their own behavior and time

Other conditions will have their own criteria. Our lawyers will go through all of this during the initial consultation.

What If A Condition Is Not Listed?

The SSA recognizes that it is not possible to list every conceivable condition that could prevent someone from working. If you or a loved one is suffering from something without its own official category, it is still possible to obtain benefits. Generally speaking, a person must prove that not only can they not do any job that they have previously had, but also that they cannot do any other kind of job either. Otherwise, their claim will be denied.

This is a rigorous standard, and meeting it requires a large amount of documentation from doctors and other professionals. Fortunately, you will not have to do this yourself. Our lawyers will organize everything, note any gaps in documentation and position you for the greatest chance of success.

What About Other Parallel Conditions?

Cognitive dysfunction frequently occurs alongside other conditions, like depression or physical limitations. The SSA will take into account the cumulative effect of all these conditions to make its eligibility determination. Even if someone’s cognitive problems are not enough to qualify for benefits on their own, the SSA will consider the effects along with everything else. A benefits determination is as holistic as possible.

Get Our Help With An Application

Obtaining benefits from the SSA is challenging, but your chances for success rise considerably if you have legal help. Please get in touch to discuss your situation. We can be reached by email or else by phone: 1-855-NICOLET.

We serve clients in Wisconsin, including Hudson and Eau Claire.