Whether you work in an office, factory, warehouse or any other place of business, you use your eyes every day to complete your job duties. Regrettably, an eye injury or certain illnesses may cause you to lose your vision. If you cannot see, you may worry about providing for yourself and your family members.
Social Security Disability Insurance benefits may give you the compensation that you need to make ends meet following the loss of your vision. If you plan to file for SSDI benefits, though, you need to know how the Social Security Administration treats blindness and loss of vision.
Three Vision Listings
Arguably, the easiest way to win SSDI benefits is to show that your disability meets a listing in the administration’s listing manual. When it comes to loss of vision, there are three listing categories:
- Remaining visual acuity in the better eye
- Peripheral visual acuity in the better eye
- Visual efficiency in the better eye
Each of these listings is testable. That is, an ophthalmologist can examine you to determine how well you can see. Therefore, it is important to seek medical treatment and keep comprehensive records about your visual acuity and efficiency.
The better eye
SSDI compensates individuals who have total blindness or substantial loss of vision. Because you have two eyes, though, guidance requires measuring sight in the better eye. That is, if you have an eye capable of seeing relatively well and one that cannot see at all, your better eye determines whether you are eligible for SSDI benefits. Unfortunately, even total loss of vision in one eye may not be compensable if you can still see with your better eye.
Clearly, your eyes are essential for working and otherwise participating in everyday life. If you have total blindness or considerable loss of vision, you may be eligible for SSDI benefits. As such, you should act quickly to receive the compensation you need to take care of yourself.
