The following is a guest post from Eric Minghella, Outreach Specialist with Disability Benefits Help:
If you or someone you love experiences hearing loss, there may be benefits available for your family. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers resources for people who are no longer able to work due to a long-term disability. While it can be challenging to qualify with hearing loss, it is listed as an approved condition. If you qualify, you’ll receive monthly payments to help cover hospital bills, childcare, bills, and any other daily living needs.
Medical Eligibility with Hearing Loss
The SSA uses its own medical guide, known colloquially as the Blue Book, when evaluating disability applications and awarding benefits. There are currently two listings for hearing loss in the Blue Book. Eligibility will vary depending on whether you currently have a cochlear implant or not.
If you do not have a cochlear implant, you will be eligible for benefits if your average air conduction hearing threshold is 90 decibels or greater in the better ear, and your average bone conduction hearing threshold is 60 decibels or greater in the better ear. You could also qualify if you have a word recognition score of 40% or less in the better ear using a standardized list of phonetically balanced words.
If you have a cochlear implant, you will automatically qualify for disability benefits for at least one year after surgery. After 12 months have passed, you’ll still qualify if you have a word recognition score of 60% or less, determined by using the HINT.
The entire Blue Book is available online, so you can review the hearing loss listings with your audiologist to get a better idea as to whether you’ll qualify.
Better Ear and Disability Benefits
One of the biggest factors to consider before applying is that the SSA will only approve claims from people who have hearing loss in both ears, and who aren’t able to improve their hearing. If you are only deaf in one ear, or if you’re able to wear hearing aids and dramatically improve your hearing, your claim for Social Security disability benefits will be denied. You’ll also be denied benefits if you’re still working despite your hearing loss, so applicants should really only apply if they’re no longer able to maintain regular employment.
Starting Your Application
If you want to apply for disability benefits with hearing loss, the easiest place to do so will be online on the SSA’s website. You can even save your application progress for later if you are unable to finish at once. If you’d prefer to apply with the assistance of a Social Security representative, you can do so at your closest Social Security office. To make an appointment to apply at an SSA office, call the SSA toll free at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 TTY.
Resources:
- https://www.ssa.gov
- https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/glossary/social-security-blue-book
- https://www.ssa.gov/planners/disability/qualify.html
- https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/2.00-SpecialSensesandSpeech-Adult.htm#2_10
- https://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/
- https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/social-security-disability-locations
