Statutory Blindness and Social Security Disability - Melvin
Logo 801-746-5075
9571 South 700 East, Suite 104 Sandy, , UT 84070
Call: 801-746-5075

Statutory Blindness and Social Security Disability

by Melvin Cook

RECENT POSTS
  • BIFF Your Way to Successful Communications with Your Ex-Spouse

    BIFF Your Way to Successful Communications with Your Ex-Spouse  Read more...

  • Unsealing Adoption Records for Good Cause in Utah

    Unsealing Adoption Records for Good Cause in Utah  Read more...

Lucretia Adams suffered from impaired vision as a result of severe diabetes. She applied for social security disability benefits. She had accumulated 32 quarters of credit from her work since 1980 and was fully insured. However, she did not have 20 quarters of credit in the 40-quarter period ending with the quarter in which her disability began and, therefore, was not specially insured. Because of this, she needed to be considered statutorily blind in order to qualify for disability benefits based upon her visual impairment.

Ms. Adams maintained a visual acuity of 20/50. In order to meet the statutory definition of blindness, a person must have a central visual of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens or have a limitation the fields of vision so that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees, which is considered having a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with use of a corrective lens.

Even though Ms. Adams’ visual acuity did not meet the requirements for statutory blindness, she had difficulty processing visual information when there was movement in her environment, such that she frequently tripped and fell while walking and could not see well enough to put a staple in a corner of a piece of paper. A neuropsychologist stated that she was functionally blind.

Nevertheless, Ms. Adams’ disability application was denied because she did not meet the definition for statutory blindness. She appealed.

In her appeal, Ms. Adams argued that her condition was functionally equivalent to the definition of statutory blindness. She argued that Congress could not have intended to award disability benefits to those who were functionally blind because of damage to their eyes while denying them to those with damage to their brain.

Unfortunately for Ms. Adams, the Court disagreed with her, finding that there was no basis in either the text of the statute or the legislation history to warrant anything other than a narrow, literal reading of the statute. Her benefits were denied.

See Social Security Ruling (SSR) 90-5c.

Contact a Salt Lake City Attorney Committed to Protecting Your Rights

When it comes the family law and social security disability, each client and case is different. It is also important to select an attorney with the experience, skills and professionalism required to address your legal issues. To learn more, contact the Salt Lake City law offices of Melvin A. Cook and schedule an initial consultation to discuss your case.

    * fields are required