In 1987 the NCADD founded and sponsored Alcohol Awareness. The purpose Alcohol Awareness Month is to reduce the stigma so often associated with alcoholism by encouraging communities to reach out to the American public every April with information about alcohol, alcoholism, and recovery. Unfortunately, alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease, that is genetically predisposed and fatal if left untreated. Many people can and do recover, in fact, nearly 20 million individuals and family members are living lives in complete recovery.
As your Social Security law firm in Tennessee, we would like to discuss disability benefits for those who suffer from substance abuse. Pursuant to Section 12.09 the SSA’s list of qualifying disabilities, Substance Addiction Disorders is defined as behavioral or physical changes associated with the regular use of substances that affect a person’s CNS (central nervous system). Issues include organic mental disorders, anxiety, depressive syndrome, peripheral neuropathies, personality disorders, liver damage, pancreatitis, seizures, and gastritis.
Many of those who suffer from substance abuse eventually suffer from permanent damage as a result of their behavior if action is not taken. The pool of substance abuse disability claimants is quite large and will only increase if the level of abuse grows larger. The SSA can’t refuse to pay benefits to someone simply because they are still actively abusing alcohol or drugs as long as the qualifying condition will remain, whether the person remains sober or not.
Unfortunately, it can be almost impossible for some applicants to show that certain mental issues arose from past substance abuse would not improve if the abuse were to cease. Further, for those who are active abusers they will not be given direct access to their disability payment, instead, a third party representative payee will need to take charge of the funds in the hope that they money will not be used to further the individual’s habit.
If you suffer from substance abuse and want to learn more about disability benefits, reach out to your local Social Security Law Firm in Tennessee.
To learn more about Alcohol Awareness Month visit the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence website to learn more.
