• 10
  • February
    2012

Whether we are at home, work or school, most of us will be interacting with other people on a daily basis. For these interactions to be successful, we need to be able to relay our needs, wants, questions and concerns. If we cannot someone to understand what we are saying, it can be an extremely frustrating time for everyone.

For someone with a severe speech disorder, communication is a serious problem that may prevent a person from being able to find employment. The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced that it was considering new rules related to Social Security Disability benefits claims for those with language or speech disorders.

The changes are being considered in an effort to improve the application process. The agency wants to develop a system that provides clear guidance as to the methods that should be used when reviewing applications from those who have speech and language disorders.

The SSA is also asking those interested to submit information about some of the different types of disorders that may affect children or adults. The agency is particularly interested to learn how these disorders inhibit individuals at school or in the workplace. Each of these factors will then weigh into potential requests for SSD or SSDI benefits.

The benefits application process can take a long time to complete, and will require careful attention to detail. It is crucial to fill out the application properly, as any missing information could cause an application to be rejected by the agency. For those that are unable to work because of a disability, this delay can make it difficult to make ends meet.

Source: Federal Register, "New Medical Criteria for Evaluating Language and Speech Disorders" Social Security Administration Feb. 6, 2012.