Is It Easy For a Nurse to Get Disability Benefits?

Can Nurses get Disability Benefits? Nurses are one of the most valuable vocations that society is blessed to have. The people that perform nursing work are almost all selfless and caring – and what a difficult job they have! Nurses often must stand for 8-12 hour shifts, during which they must sometimes lift and carry patients. The stress can also be quite severe and mentally taxing. It is no wonder that sometimes medical conditions can render them unable to work. Disability benefits are available for nurses, but many nurses don’t realize their options or face too much red tape. 

So, what is a nurse to do when they’ve lost their ability to earn an income? Are they going to be left to fend for themselves, without any financial help? How easy is it for a nurse to get approved disability benefits? Our Baltimore and Washington DC disability lawyers outline options for nurses below, and we encourage you or your loved one to pursue your claim with the help of a disability benefits lawyer who frequently assists nurses. 

Social Security Disability Benefits for Nurses in Maryland and Washington and DC 

For a nurse to get social security disability benefits (SSDI), they need to be unable to perform any kind of work – not just nursing — due to a medical condition. This is a very difficult standard to meet, especially if the nurse has only physical impairments. Fortunately, the Social Security Administration has made it easier for older nurses to get SSDI. If they are 50 or over and limited to sedentary work due to their medical condition then they will probably be disabled. Furthermore, if they are 55 or over and limited to light work due to their medical condition then they will likely be considered disabled. Thus it is pretty difficult for a nurse to get SSDI, but the older they are the easier it is to get benefits, generally speaking – with the help of a Baltimore or Washington DC disability benefits lawyer.  

Private Long Term Disability is Possible with the Help of a Skilled Attorney 

Unlike SSDI, a nurse must be unable to perform their occupation, fully or partially, due to a medical condition to get long-term disability benefits. This sounds easier than SSDI, and it is, but not as easy as it could be. Why? Because the insurance companies (usually UNUM, Reliance or Mass Mutual) that hospitals pay to insure their nurses do not want to pay out disability benefits. Nurses usually pay part of the premiums to the insurance companies too. Did you get that? They love COLLECTING insurance premiums but hate PAYING the benefits they promised to provide. 

So how do hospitals avoid paying? These insurance companies hire immoral doctors to say you are not disabled. And they pay these doctors a TON of money to do it. Unfortunately, nurses are sometimes denied long term disability benefits because a physician with a conflict of interest decides their profit is more important than the nurse’s pain. 

What Other Disability Benefits Are Available for Nurses? 

If a nurse works for the State or Federal government, they could be eligible for disability retirement benefits. How easy it is depends on the state; if the federal government, then it’s pretty easy.

If you need help, contact us as soon as possible to talk to a Social Security disability attorney or a long term disability insurance lawyer.