I lost most of my vision at age 39 due to an accident.-- I was totally blind but they were able to recover a small amount in my right eye. I was working and had no issue getting disability, even without an attorney. I was told the reason people who are blind/legally blind get more benefits is that blind people can work, but finding employment can be difficult. I also can work and make as much $2040.00 per month and not lose my benefits.-- which is much more than other disabled people can make.

Thank you for this information. I have recently been diagnosed as legally blind and navigating the social security application process is more difficult than I ever anticipated.

Your videos are always packed full of great information. I wish you would also do a video on applying for disability with a hearing problem. I want to thank you for taking time and putting these very informative videos on youtube.

Thanks for your help! After 2 and one half years I finally won my case. I learned more from your videos than I could ever imagine!

This is was so helpful I’m in the reconsideration stage it’s overwhelming thanks again

Hi there. So much I’d like to throw in. I’ll try to be brief but firstly I appreciate all content creators. Thank you for making this video. My background. I’m totally blind. I lost all functional vision in 1997 and born in 1982, the best acuity I had before going blind was 15 percent. Now though, nothing and additionally I am registered blind too - living in the UK - but I was deployed for work to the USA last year and currently hold a working VISA for the USA. To address your first point - you’re not sure why the award would be particularly high for visual impairment that is so severe as to impact daily living. I get it but this is an empathy and understanding point because, for reasons I get, you can’t appreciate what that means. It means taking forever to clean your home - it means getting family members or paid help in to make sure you’ve sorted thigns you don’t even know are there. It means you can’t hop in the car and you need to pay for cabs. It means you have to plan out trips for work or personal life that you don’t have to do seeing typically or even well. I didn’t claim US social security. I worked there and I shall again when deployed - but I work full time in the UK. My line of work is journalism. Again, I understand it’s not a personal comment but it is cringe to suggest that vision falls below a certain point and so you can’t be an effective worker. Total garbage in fact. I work to a very high level in a highly competitive field. I know blind lawyers, professors, sales folk, accountants, business owners and Judges. The impact of blindness - by which I mean blind - no or very low vision is so serious as to impact daily living to a point where you can’t just head out on a route you don’t know without major issues. You take in 80% to 85% of your sensory information visually. I can’t. Seeing’s easy. Societally we go down the lines of helping those who can’t. Based on UK figures, the extra cost of meeting a disability such as blindness as a result of blindness is £700 - about 1,100 dollars. That’s cab fares, extra dry cleaning, paying for sighted assistance, not being able to shop around like sighted folk. Not sure if this helps but throwing it in. My salary is pretty decent for the UK. I’m about to (in the next few months) put in a claim for personal independence payments, and I think that will be about £700 a month. I’ve not claimed anything since 2003 firstly because I don’t want to beg anyone, cap in hand and secondly because the process is pretty degrading - however I have my certification with objective opthalmological testing you mention and actually, I’m spending so much of my salary in a way my sighted colleagues don’t have to. What a lengthy reply, I am sorry - however I wanted to throw this is. If nothing else, I hope it aids understanding. Best wishes and thanks for creating content.

Thank you for this informative video.I have about 6 eye conditions that I was born with .

As always you have great great content, Thank You COUNSELOR THANK YOU

Sooooo thankful with you! I have a rare eye condition that is causing me to lose my vision, currently in the process of a CE, this is very helpful, thank you!

Thank you for your video This is my case I won Social Security

Hello Mr Ginsberg. First thank you for your videos. They are very informative. The video on vision problems was interesting to me as my oldest brother was denied SSD, even tho he was legally blind. This is in the state of California. He was very disappointed when he was denied, as the ss worker informed him that blind people can do many types of work. He had been a security guard for the last 5 plus years. As he got up and started to leave, the social security personel then noticed that he was on kidney dialysis. She asked him if that was correct and for how long. My brother told her that he was on dialysis 3 times a week, for the last year. That automaticly qualified him for SSD. Go figure, blind No, Dialysis, Yes. Very frustrating sometimes.

I'm so very grateful for your informative videos. I'm in the process of trying to win my case. Please know that you do make a difference, and you have at least to one person. Thank you.

Thank you for this resource!!

WONDERFUL INFORMATION ❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰

Great information. Thanks so much.

Great video and information as always

Thank you sir very good video I won my case and everything you said in this video I right on the money I am over the age of 50 so that helped and I have breathing problems thank you for the this great video

Thank you for your informative videos. My case is unique. Among other work related injuries, I was struck by lightning in 1985 and electrocuted by 440-3 phase for 28 seconds in 1991. The effects of the electrocutions stayed dormant, with minimal health issues, until June of 2016. I am having difficulty finding doctors specializing in lightning strike and electrocution survivors.

I'm already on SSI amd i had a eye stroke only leaving 1 eye to see out of. I have good days and bad days .Vision gos from cloudy vision and barely able to see 10 feet to have no cloudy vision and barely able to see 20 feet . I just need info on what i need to do like revisit eye doctor , thanks for making the video . it helped.

This video helped me out so much I'm blind in one eye 100% and my vision in my right eye is not that great plus I have terrible back pain and high blood pressure that's over the top my hearing is in the end of January this was very helpful to me thank you very much I appreciate it and I'll be 58 in April so hopefully this will go well because I can't see myself working anymore I've tried I just can't do it

Hello, I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic migrains, major depression with severe anxiety. And I would like to hear your advice on how to prepare for a hearing with the judge, I mean communication wise, because I get to nervous and anxious that I lose my thoughts and complaints. P.s also my MRI showed that I have chiari malformation type 1. Thank you in advance,

What if you have intracranial hypertension and it affects you with migraines and visual issues but not complete blindness just yet

I have Homonymous hemianopsia total let field loss in both eyes. I have the field test SS wants and my left field in both eyes is 0 degrees from point of fixation. ( or how SS says it less than 20% in both eyes of left field) Do I have a case? thank you so much for your videos!

Ive been waiting since 2015 and o was denied last yr and its at the appeal conceal

I was diagnosed with a vision disease called Stargardt's. I have a job waiting tables but I'm losing my health benefits next month. I still drive, though I feel like I shouldn't be anymore. My opthomologist gave me a corrected acuity of 20/250 but I can still manage a 20/100 at my optomotrist where I go to get driver's license forms filled out. My job does not pay well at all and now that I am losing health insurance I am looking for better options that involve getting health insurance. I live in MD. Any suggestions?

My sister has a pituitary tumor that has caused severe loss of peripheral vision. She also has severe migraine headaches, depression and anxiety. She sees an ophthalmologist. Will social security send her to a doctor to check for vision loss or will she need records from her doctor?

Hello Mr. Ginsberg, I have so many health issues but more concern of my loss of sight. I am legally blind in one eye (central vision). Yet SSDD Unit told me that my vision impairment shouldn't keep me from working, because even the blind can work. But I feel I am unemployable because of this and other health problems that they cannot consider. I feel hopeless especially when looking for work at my age.

I dont think you get a larger benefit for vision loss......you are allowed to earn quite a bit more income and keep your benefits with a visual deficit.

My application status has been the same since March..today it stated that it was under review and a medical decision has been made..what does this mean for mean and how long before I get a decision

Ok. So what if the person has narcolepsy with cataplexy and because of this, they experience episodes of diplopia? It's well documented with the retinologist that the benign idiopathic intracranial hypertension and papilledema that the patient also has is being controlled fairly well and that the eyes themselves are not showing signs of the diplopia, so it has to be from the narcolepsy which is a new diagnosis. Would it be an eye thing or a neurological thing or both?

I have been diagnosed with Retinopathy of prematurity Stage 4 of left eye & Epiretinal membrane of left eye just had laser surgery in my left eye for blood vessels bleeding out and will need lifetime monitoring for bleeds and I can only see shadows in my left eye and is also a lazy eye and I have decreased vision in my right eye with Chronic Dry Eyes in both I can no longer work it’s getting to hard for me I have applied for disability I hope that I get granted it.

How do you submit your medical reports about being blind after you have already been approved for SSDI for other issues the blinders has come on since the original approval

Can you do a video on Hidradenitis Suppurativia? It is very debilitating and painful:(

Can you do a video about mixed connective tissue disease or undifferentiated connective tissue disease?

I have been receiving SSDI since December of 2018. on January 27th of 2020 how is declared legally blind, my benefits are currently 10:47 but will they now increase and if so do you know by how much?

Thank you Rodney and thank you Good Sir! I'm still reeling from, and being diagnosed for, recent vision loss. NA-ION for the second time, much more devastating *and* in the other 'good' eye. Both eyes are affected. Is it correct (forgive me if this is an unethical question) that SS determines what an SS attorney charges? I have two versions, 1. The SS pays the attorney and my contribution is nil. 2. The SS determines what I can be charged but it will come from me. I visited a local SS attorney for an orientation and payment is a fee for the initial filing and 25% of any retroactive amount up to a maximum of 6k. Is this standard or at the very least reasonable? I'm struggling to cope so in addition to thanking you for the advice I'd take this opportunity to thank you for your soothing demeanor. It truly helps on a plane you may have not considered. Just so you know...

What if you have gotten surgery done such as corneal cross linking Becuase you have keratoconus which a corneal disease. How does having a corneal disease affect anything ? Especially if your vision is still bad after surgery

I don't know if you will see this, but Im 22, and i recently had my remand DAC hearing last monday, I'm legally blind, my vision with glasses is 20/600 in my left eye, 20/400 in my right eye, I have a guide dog. The V.E. said I can do 1 job as a mail room clerk but after the judge added more hypothetical there were no jobs. Would I get approved? Also this is on my dads record. Would I receive all of his benefits or half of it?

I was born with 6th crainal nerve palsy. Which is a form of strabismus. Suffer greatly from double vision. I am legally blind in my affected eye. Vision is failing in my good eye which also has double vision. Need advice please!

I've been legally blind since birth with worsening conditions over time. I'm 42 & have never been gainfully employed whereby I earned SS credits. Is it possible to collect SSDI under my husband's earnings? I dont qualify 4 SSI due 2 income spouses income level. Had it when I was a teen, until marriage.

What is difference Social security disability and others such as SSI or SSDI. Applied for disability and when applying had to fill a mother form called SSI, was told my husband made too much money for SSI but what do these mean? Do you have a video on this. Are there other types of benefits that can be applied for? Vision worse than legally blind, not sure what I applied for or does the government decide?

So would someone whos vision without Rx with a clear visual focus up to 12 inches from them qualify for disability or partial disability if they are not able to consider themselves reliable because they often loose their Rx corrective lenses or over wear their Rx contact lenses which often lead to such infections like pink eye which is knowingly a contagious infection of eye and can easily spread, but also when a Rx for low vision is necessary for someone who relies on it to function and if they don't have it available than it may cause them to become completely incapable of work. I know when I don't have a way of corrective eye wear I lack the ability of doing anything I can't see my clothes to find what to wear, I for sure can't see to drive, when sun begins to fall I must have a flashlight otherwise can't see where I'm walking. So without Rx my guess is I'd have to add 3 hours to every task that consumes an hours time when corrective lenses are worn. So my question ❓ Whether not state disability has considered a person whos visual impairment or disability affecting their life when they are not able to use their corrective lenses for whatever reason so they are not beneficial, they're unreliable and become a negative asset to the employers expectations so will state disability consider this enough to partial benefits?

Can you do a video about epilepsy and ssd.

Being 50 slack education me blind in one eye I'll go have a back problems with MRIS can I get the benefits for being blind with the grid rule

All that together you get to draw the blinds check only have one eye and I got a disc problems too plus 35% of my heart I'll be able to get the blind check

I can't find away to inbox this. I have a disability hearing scheduled for Nov 20th. I live in Columbus GA the video judge is in Knoxville Tennessee. I was advised to call and get in person for my local area due to my condition.. which is closet to Atlanta Ga Judges. I have to send a statement saying I need an in person hearing. ..can you please tell me the appox wait time with this change. I also wonder will the AJL travel here to our office, which is appox 100 miles away. I have to family, car or transportation to travel anywhere. It's it pasobile to ride with the attorney or should I let them know I need the in person in my.local office. Thank you Mr Ginsberg. If possible could you do a video on this kinda issue that when a person is advised to change video hearing to in person hearing. There is not too much I can find about it on the net

HelloMrGinesberg I will tfue application for disability three years ago somebody donot help me I donot understand

I worked for 10 plus years, could never advance in the industry i was low on the totum pole as you will, I live in a small town with not many jobs and obviously can't legally drive. We have no buses or even really Uber. Me working for years, will that look bad? Needless to say i got fired and can't get hired anywhere because i have no licence or reliable transportation. I've been associated with ABVI a service for the Blind since i was in Kindergarten so I believe i have a pretty strong case, right?

hello are refugees eligible for Social Security disability pensions?

Have you ever represented anyone with Keratoconus(thinning of Cornea that can lead to blindness) I had a cornea transplant about 10 years ago in the left eye bc I was determined legally blind on that eye. I have been wearing sclera lenses for the past 4 years and they are extremely irritating at times and quite often collect deposit causing me to not be able to see at all. I have to wipe them off with inside of my Witt the inside of my shirt (Like wiping a windshield) it doesn’t make vision perfect when I do this as I still don’t have perfect vision wearing lenses and it leaves spots of deposit on lens. My ophthalmologist tried many diff material with no success. When driving I have to pull over. You can’t just take them out like reg lenses and pop cack in they have to be washed well and rinsed then put in with a mirror and special plunger. Anyway, I also have other conditions such as ddd, fibromyalgia, carpel tunnel, CFS, anxiety, depression narrowing of the c4 and c5 vertebra considered chronic, chronic pain, sleep issues and more. Past work was CNA primarily and over 15 yrs. I am going to be 52 in feb 2019 What do you think?

Can you get social security for a pseudotumor cerebri and your vision is 20/200

How long dos it take ssi to deside your case after you saw there eye doctor I applied for ssdi on January 29 of this year but my apointment to see there eye doctor is September 11 of this year I'm leagley blind my right eye is 2200 vision my left eye is blind.

Please do a video regarding Sleep Apnea and Disability Benefits from S.S.A. thanks!!!

Hi lawyer. Eye doctor had revoked my license because my vision, but I cannot get approval from ssi. I don't understand that. Can you tell me why I cannot approval?

I am legally blind. I am not working now.I’m 56. I have worked for 29 years at the same non profit. I’m a Massachusetts Commission for the blind client. Can I apply and receive SSDI?

What about cases where a person's eyes get worse over time could they win on the grid?

What about vision problems with one or both eyes blacking out? I will see a black spot in my peripheral and frontal vision and I have to close my eyes for a few minutes until it disappears? It starts as a small spot and expands and goes away. It’s inconsistent. My neurologist told me it’s an optic migraine. My Opthamologist doesn’t see anything.

I HAVE LOST VISION IN ONE EYE THE OTHER EYE IS 20/60 BUT MY VISION IS FOGGY HAZY CLOUDY DOES THIS QUALIFY I STRUGGLE I ALSO HAVE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

Do you have any experience with Connective Tissue Disease?

After the EIJA fees are stated to be refunded the total they are still petitioning for is 40,000. Does the SSA review the amount or do they just approve whatever the lawyers are asking for? Does it ever get lowered ? Thank you for you help this is my last question.

My state Medicaid evaluater has determined me disabled under blue book listing of impairments of 2.01. is this still qualifiable for disability with me having enough work credits? I also take antidepressants and sleeping pills for my insomnia.

Ive been working in IT for 30 years and am 55 yo. I can see great. However, In the last year i've had to increase the magnification in reading glasses 3 times. I am useless without my reading glasses at work.. I recently started having terrible headache after 30 minutes in front of screen and living on Advil - i usually don't feel well until the next morning. I've had to take a bunch of days off this last month. I have LTD with my employer, but have not told details to anybody at work or even seen a medical professional. I am wondering if it comes to this, will my LTD provider decline my claim based on ability to other types of work? What steps should i take to protect my job given i will need to take time and production will suffer.

Hello. Have you ever had a case involving NF1 and I'm 56 years old.

Hi I'm 54, blind in my left eye, and have been diognosed major depressive disorder, ADHD, ptsd. I can get a job but I can't keep one. I've been seeing my pshyc docs for about 9 months regularly, 2 hospital stays ..plus 2 eye surgeries. (No college) Do you think I have a decent case?

I have nystagmus, my eyes shake from side to side constantly.

Thank You for your reply . The lawyer petitioned the SSA for $40,000 saying they did a lot of work winning the disability case in Federal court . Does the SSA always approve the amount a disability lawyer petitions for because its a large amount and the client waited over 8 years to be approved. Seems way to much to me. Thank you your videos are really great and informative.

If i may ask u a opinion question on my wifes case. Went in front of a judge 4 out of 5 times asked if any jobs said no jobs n 5th time was only possible with extreme limitations n even judge said she couldnt do even that all day. Also are ada said a judge NEVER shows her cards n said she said on record she finds everything we had n what my wife said credible. He said hes 87% sure we won n dont see how she wld deny us n if did would b easy appeal based on what she said on record. Whats your take on this based on my ecplanation. Still uneasy but hoping we won. I cld use the help

How about version 20/200????

I suffer from Retinopathy open angel glaucoma and my drivers license suspended I take monthily ijections for fetopathy Diabetes

Thank u for the info... I have retinitis pigmentosa... I would like to know if u know if i can claim or not

Can a disability lawyer get $40,000 from a client with a petition fee isn't there a cap Thanks

If you are steadily working “on the books”, take out short and long-term disability insurance!!!!!! Disability pays more for blindness due to the overwhelming lack Of being able to do anything for a company without making their liability insurance go thru the roof. As bad as it sounds it’s true, no one will hire an almost blind person due to this liability. I get it, it sucks but I kinda understand their thoughts. When you’re used to making a living and then something drastic happens such as vision loss, they won’t force you to take a menial job making low wages so they understand this and allow you to receive a bit more money than the usual disability amount. At least this is the way it was explained in my case as an electrician & HVACR mechanic. Always paid into the system for over 25 years so it was well documented w/ GOV. In my case. I thank them for the payments but it sure ain’t no where near what I made toward end of my career in early 2000’s...(100k+ to 30k on dis.) seems like they would match earnings or a bit closer to what one was earning at the top of their career before quitting one’s work. Do your self a favor while you’re healthy and steadily working, take out short and long-term disability insurance!!!! Can’t stress this enough. It saved my home when in process of dealing w/ US GOV & Disability. ✌️& learn how to use the microphone to text on a computer!

Why the judge asked me for my check stubs?

Really could use some advise my hearing is in two days and i had a liver transplant when i was 3 weeks old, i take immune suppresent drugs . I also have a portal vein clot around my varices. I suffer from un-announced internal bleeding that usually requires blood transfusions and trips to the ER cause i have no clue blood is sitting in my stomach until its on pain. I am a 24 year old and i do help out my aunt in her office. i do this for around 12-16 hours a week but i frequently miss work due to the doctor appointments i have no say in scheduling because it has to be certain doctors when they are available so i have to miss it. Also with theses bleedings typically im in a hospital 2-3 weeks because even if the bleeding stops they run all sorts of tests on me every time. Basically im applying because no matter what job i have they end up firing me because i miss too much work and would rather hire someone else. i do have an attorney representing me. i also have state insurance. do you think my hearing will be going smooth or pretty bad?

The email address you list is invalid. ive tried numerous times to contact you 🤬 And the 800# is for Time Warner

Where are you located?

I'm legally blind and got awarded SSDI. I used to be a Massage Therapist for over 20yrs with no problems, but my last year working I had a # MeToo close call with a predatory woman...(I almost lost my job, and I could've gone to jail) Can a Judge order me back to work as a Massage Therapist in a review? I used to massage thousands of women yearly, but the law has changed in Florida and it's now guilty until proven innocent for the accused ... I am terrified of working with women now.

I CAN'T SEE WELL FROM LEFT EYE THE SOCIAL SECURITY EVALUATOR -YELLED AT ME TREATED ME BADLY AND FORCED ME TO WANT TO SEE WHEN I COULD NOT AND SAID I WAS LYING. DR SCHNEIER ADAM MD.