Stephen Schultz | April 5, 2024 | Personal Injury
Many people in St. Louis County, Missouri, are living with a disability. Disabled children and adults and their dependents can turn to state and federal programs to assist with utilities, medical care, and income. Employer-sponsored or private disability insurance can provide monthly benefits.
Many people with disabilities qualify for at least one program to provide monthly compensation:
- Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits for service-related disabilities
- Workers’ compensation for work-related injuries and illnesses
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) based on work credits
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on age and income
SSDI and SSI are the two largest disability benefits programs. Nearly 11 million disabled people and dependents are SSDI beneficiaries. About 7.5 million are SSI beneficiaries. According to the Social Security Administration, 388,000 SSDI beneficiaries have also applied for public benefits or workers’ compensation.
Here are the top ten disabilities in St. Louis, MO, according to the SSDI Annual Statistical Report.
1. Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders of the muscles, joints, and bones are responsible for 30.1% of SSDI disabilities.
Common examples include:
- Arthritis is believed to be the leading cause of disability
- Chronic back pain
- Complex, non-healing fractures
- Severe burns
- Degenerative disc disease and ruptured discs
- Amputation
Musculoskeletal conditions are also the most common type of injury in workplace accidents. About 66% of workers’ compensation claims involve back pain and other musculoskeletal problems.
2. Depressive Disorders
About 12% of SSDI beneficiaries have major depression, bipolar disorder, cyclothymic disorder, or persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia). Bipolar disorder affects about 4.4% of adults with depressive and manic episodes that dramatically affect mood, energy, and activity. About 9.5% of adults experience depression every year.
These conditions can qualify as a disability when they severely limit the long-term ability to work.
3. Sense and Nervous System Disorders
Disorders of the nose, ears, eyes, skin, and nervous system account for 10% of SSDI beneficiaries.
Examples of these disabilities include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Vision loss
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Nerve pain or neuralgia
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
There are many types of nervous system disorders. They may be autoimmune disorders like MS, degenerative conditions, or caused by infection or disrupted blood flow. Nervous system disorders can also be caused by trauma, structural defects, or damage.
4. Intellectual Disorders
Intellectual disabilities like Down syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome make up 9% of approved SSDI cases. These conditions cause well below-average intellectual functioning with major challenges in learning, adaptive functioning, and reasoning. There are 20,900 SSDI beneficiaries in Missouri with an intellectual disorder.
5. Circulatory Disorders
Circulatory or cardiovascular diseases affect the veins, arteries, and heart. Stroke and heart disease are two major forms of cardiovascular disease.
Heart disease is a broad term that can refer to conditions such as:
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Atherosclerosis
- Arrhythmia and dysrhythmia
Major risk factors for cardiovascular disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, inactivity, obesity, tobacco use, and alcohol use. About 6.7% of SSDI beneficiaries have disabling cardiovascular disease.
6. Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia, psychotic depression, and schizoaffective disorder make up 4.7% of SSDI cases. Psychotic disorders cause abnormal thinking and perception. This may include delusions, hallucinations, and a disconnection from reality.
7. Other Mental Disorders
Other mental disorders aside from the above account for 4.5% of SSDI beneficiaries.
Other mental disorders include:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia
- Anxiety disorders like social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
These conditions are considered a disability when they significantly impair the ability to work. They can affect the ability to participate in society and perform daily activities.
8. Injuries
About 3.4% of approved SSDI cases are directly related to an injury. Nearly 6% of workers’ compensation claims involve injuries. Among men, injuries are the second leading cause of workers’ compensation benefits.
Car accidents, falls, and sports are leading reasons for disabling injuries.
9. Tumors
Three percent of SSDI beneficiaries have disabling tumors, which are usually cancerous. Ovarian cancer, lung cancer, mesothelioma, lymphoma, and skin cancer are common examples. Benign brain tumors can also be considered a disability.
10. Neurocognitive Disorders (Dementia)
Another three percent of SSDI beneficiaries have dementia or major neurocognitive disorder.
The most common forms of dementia are:
- Alzheimer’s disease –70% of cases
- Vascular dementia – 15%
- Parkinson’s disease – 10%
- Lewy body dementia – 5%
Dementia usually affects older adults, but some adults develop early-onset dementia.
A St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Pursue Compensation
Every year, more people in St. Louis are left disabled by an accident that wasn’t their fault. While SSDI, SSI, and workers’ compensation benefits are crucial, they don’t fully compensate victims for their losses. You may be entitled to additional compensation if you have suffered a serious injury caused by someone else’s negligence.
A St. Louis personal injury lawyer can help you explore legal options that may be available to you.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in St. Louis, MO
If you’ve been injured, please contact Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today:
St. Louis, MO Law Office
1430 Washington Ave Ste 225, St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 444-4444
Ladue, MO Law Office
9807 S 40 Dr, St. Louis, MO 63124
Columbia, MO Law Office
28 N 8th St # 502, Columbia, MO 65201
Creve Coeur, MO Law Office
999 Executive Pkwy Dr #205, Creve Coeur, MO 63141
