In The News...

Last week was a very interesting week in terms of news worthy items that are pertinent to the disability community.

The Supreme Court ruled that isolated human genes cannot be patented. The Supreme Court did distinguish human genes from DNA molecules engineered by people, which would still be eligible for patent. This case was getting a lot of media attention, ever since actress, Angelina Jolie, announced that she underwent a preventative double mastectomy due to the fact that she was a BRCA gene carrier, a gene that predisposes one significantly to breast and ovarian cancer.

The problem has been that BRCA testing is not widely affordable to the general public due to the fact that a company called Myriad Genetics had been awarded a patent for BRCA1 and BRCA 2 genes in the 1990s. This patent essentially eliminated a competitive market for BRCA testing. The hope with this new ruling is that other companies will increase their research into BRCA gene testing and come up with more affordable ways for all women to effectively screen themselves for BRCA genes.

On a different note, Cari and I have become aware of a new documentary that was created to help end the stigma and misperceptions of mental illness. The documentary entitled A New State of Mind: Ending the Stigma of Mental Illness was funded by California’s voter approved Mental Services Act and profiles the stories of individuals who have fought to overcome the stigmas and misconceptions  associated with mental illnesses. The documentary is narrated by actress, Glenn Close.

It is estimated that one in four people suffer from a mental illness. In spite of this significant statistic, mental illnesses are one of the least understood disabilities by the general public. Unfair stereotypes overshadow the many successes that people with mental illnesses are able to achieve. This documentary seeks to highlight the individuals and organizations fighting to end discrimination against people with mental illnesses.

Here is a link to the documentary:

http://www.eachmindmatters.org/great-minds-gallery/view-the-film/         
          
Got a question that you need answered? Please check out our website at www.westcoastdisability.com . We try to provide you with valuable information on our website that may help you navigate the Social Security Disability process. Also, feel free to shoot us an email at info@westcoastdisability.com or call us at (800) 459-3017.

What Does It Mean to Be Disabled?

The concept of disability can be both abstract and confusing. The term “disabled” is personal in nature and means different things to different people. However, when it comes to being deemed “disabled” in the legal sense, it doesn’t take long to realize that there are various definitions and standards depending on which governmental or private entity is evaluating the application for disability.

Disability benefits come in many forms. While Cari and I only handle Federal Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income claims, disability benefits are also available through the State of California, the Worker’s Compensation system, the Veteran’s Administration, and private insurance companies. What many people are surprised to learn is that every single one of these types of benefits comes with its own unique definition of disability.

Some of these programs focus on whether an individual can perform his or her past work. Other programs focus on whether an “average” individual with the same impairments could perform work. Some of these programs look at whether an individual is prevented from working for a short period of time, while other programs focus on a more long-term definition of disability. Social Security’s definition can be more complex, however.

Social Security finds that a person is disabled if this person has a physical or mental impairment, or a combination of both, which prevents this person from working for at least 365 days, or the impairment(s) is expected to result in death.   Additionally, SSA is not just concerned with whether an individual can perform his or her past work. SSA also looks at whether a person has transferrable skills to perform other work, and depending on the person’s age, whether this individual could perform unskilled work in the national economy. Finally, SSA also considers an individual’s age and education when assessing a claim.

While these factors are important to the Social Security Administration, other disability plans have different criteria to consider. Thus, it is always important to keep in mind the standards that you must meet for the particular disability program you are applying for.

Got a question that you need answered? Please check out our website at www.westcoastdisability.com . We try to provide you with valuable information on our website that may help you navigate the Social Security Disability process. Also, feel free to shoot us an email at info@westcoastdisability.com or call us at (800) 459-3017.