Hip Replacement? You Might Qualify for SSDI in Massachusetts

The chronic pain was excruciating. Whether arthritis, autoimmune disease, or a serious injury left you to live in severe pain, you wanted relief so you sought a hip replacement surgery.

Hip replacement surgery is a serious matter. It involves removing parts of the hip joint and then reconnecting them with synthetic parts. It’s an intense, invasive medical procedure that, when done correctly, can provide you some relief from the pain you endured for so long. Still, after such a tough operation, many people are unable to move or operate in the same capacity as before they were hurt. If that sounds like you, it might be time to apply for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits in Massachusetts.

Qualifying for SSDI in Massachusetts for Hip Replacement Surgery

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a listing called “Reconstructive Surgery or Surgical Anthrodesis of a Major Weight-Bearing Joint.” This long title represents the listing with the qualifications you must meet in order to qualify for SSDI for a hip replacement.

Upon first glance, it may seem easy to qualify. The listing states that you must prove:

• You have had a hip replacement surgery.
• You aren’t able to move or walk effectively enough to perform your job.
• You aren’t expected to be able to walk well enough to perform your job for at least one year.
   

Some people do not meet that listing, but many others—especially those who suffered complications from the surgery—do meet the criteria. The item that is most confusing to applicants is the part that says “ability to walk effectively.”

Understanding How to Know Whether You Can Walk Effectively

The SSA has explained what it considers to be the ability to walk effectively. If any of the following sound like you, then you are considered to unable to walk effectively:

• You must use a walker, crutches or canes to walk.
• You cannot walk far enough to complete basic daily tasks, such as going to the grocery store.
• You have difficulty walking a block on rough surfaces.
• You struggle to walk down stairs, even with the help of one handrail.
• You cannot drive yourself to work or take public transportation without the assistance of someone else.

Each of these represents your abilities to move on the job. To qualify for SSDI in Massachusetts after a hip replacement surgery, you must demonstrate that one or more of these apply to you. You must also explain how they impact your abilities on the job.

Demonstrating this is not as easy as it sometimes seems. If you know of someone struggling to decide whether he should apply for SSDI in Boston, and who is unable to walk effectively, we encourage you to share this article with him. It just might be the answer he has been looking for after struggling after such a serious surgery.

Are You Looking for a Social Security Disability Attorney in Boston, MA?

If you are looking to apply for social security disability, you need to speak with an experienced social security disability lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Natick Office directly at 508.283.5500 to schedule your free consultation.