Suffering a broken bone or severe fracture can dramatically change your daily life. Some fractures heal quickly. Others, like compound breaks or injuries that require surgery, can keep you from working for months or even permanently. In these cases, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) may provide financial support while you focus on recovery.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers a disability to be the “inability to engage in substantial gainful activity” due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to last at least a year or result in death.
Based in Evansville, Indiana, but serving clients nationwide, the disability law attorney at Wambach Disability Law can explain your options and help you prepare a claim that accurately shows how a severe fracture affects your ability to work. Contact our law firm today to find out whether your injury qualifies for SSDI benefits.
Not every broken bone is legally “disabling” when it comes to benefits. The SSA evaluates fractures based on how they affect your ability to perform work-related activities. Minor fractures that heal quickly or don’t significantly limit your daily functions won’t meet SSA’s disability requirements. On the other hand, severe fractures, such as compound fractures or multiple breaks, can have long-term consequences that affect your mobility and strength. SSA considers several factors when reviewing fracture-related SSDI claims:
Medical documentation is the key to proving your disability. SSA reviews evidence like imaging results and physical therapy notes to determine just how severe your fracture is and whether you have sufficient ongoing limitations. Our experienced disability lawyer can help you determine whether you’re likely to qualify and what you’ll need for our law firm to prove your claim.
Certain fractures are more likely to qualify for SSDI. The SSA specifically addresses major long-bone fractures, such as breaks of the femur, tibia, or pelvis, especially when these injuries prevent you from performing substantial gainful activity. Fractures that commonly qualify include:
If your fracture interferes with basic daily mobility, you’re more likely to receive disability benefits. The SSA will consider any functional limitations on:
Good documentation is the key to an approved claim. You might need:
These all help demonstrate how your fracture affects your daily life and ability to work. Unfortunately, without clear medical evidence, even severe fractures may not meet SSA’s requirements for SSDI approval. Hiring an experienced disability lawyer from our law firm is the best way to put together a strong case.
Many people assume that a severe fracture automatically qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance, but several obstacles can make obtaining approval difficult. One of the most common issues is that the SSA may consider your injury temporary.
If the fracture is expected to heal within a year, your claim may be denied, even if daily activities remain limited. SSA requires evidence that your fracture creates functional limitations preventing substantial gainful activity for at least 12 months.
Another common challenge is insufficient documentation and difficulty linking your fracture to work limitations. SSA evaluates disability based on how an injury affects your ability to perform work-related tasks, not simply the fracture itself. That means that even if you have significant pain or limited mobility, SSA could still deny your claim simply because you can still do your job. Common hurdles include:
The good news is that if your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal. SSA’s reconsideration and hearing process allows you to challenge decisions and submit additional evidence. Working with a skilled disability attorney is often the key to a successful appeal. This typically involves:
In short, you need clear documentation that is as thorough as possible. When you have strong medical evidence demonstrating persistent functional limitations, it increases the likelihood of approval and reduces delays in receiving benefits. Our law firm’s founding attorney is ready to step in and help clients in Indiana throughout the United States, whether you’re filing a claim for the first time or need help on appeal.
Navigating an SSDI claim for a severe fracture or broken bone requires careful attention to medical evidence, functional limitations, and procedural requirements. Joe Wambach, the Indiana-based attorney at Wambach Disability Law, helps clients living across the U.S. organize and present the information SSA needs to evaluate a claim accurately.
We can help with:
Wambach Disability Law serves clients throughout Indiana and nationwide. Our law firm’s experience dealing with the SSA and SSDI claims allows us to give SSA a complete picture of your disability.
Broken bones and severe fractures can prevent you from working, sometimes permanently. If your fracture causes ongoing pain or functional restrictions that make it difficult to perform your work tasks, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSA evaluates claims based on medical evidence and functional limitations, so full documentation is the key to approval.
An attorney from Wambach Disability Law can help you gather records and prepare your SSDI application. We help clients throughout Indiana and nationwide present a clear, accurate claim so they can focus on healing. Contact us today to review your case.
