The chances of an individual with multiple sclerosis getting Social Security disability are as good as any individual filing for disability. Social Security is more concerned about functional capacity than specific medical impairments, so it depends upon the severity of an individual's MS symptoms. That being said, individuals who have MS often have symptoms that greatly affect their ability to function in everyday life. Many individuals with MS suffer from disorganization of their motor function, problems with their vision, or even psychological or behavioral abnormalities.
Multiple Sclerosis is evaluated under neurological impairments in the Social Security disability list of impairments handbook. The multiple sclerosis listing number is 11.09. The listing states that an individual has to have a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis with disorganization of motor function (sensory or motor problems that hinder speech or communication; or severe continual disturbance of gross and dexterous movements, gait, and station);or visual or mental impairments; or severe fatigue with significant muscle weakness with repetitive movements that can verified through physical examination and that are associated with dysfunction in areas of the central nervous system known to be involved in the progression of the multiple sclerosis process.
If the symptoms of multiple sclerosis have caused an individual's residual functional capacity to become severely restricted, they may have a good chance of being awarded Social Security disability benefits. Social Security defines disability as any medically determinable mental or physical impairment that has prevented an individual from working for twelve months, or is expected to prevent the individual from working for twelve months, or is expected to result in death.
Since the symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be so debilitating, many individuals meet or equal the disability handbook impairment criteria or they receive medical vocational allowances (disability allowances that consider residual functional capacity, education, age, and work history).
