When impairments are not visible, it can be much easier for insurance companies to deny claimants the disability benefits they deserve. That is one of the reasons why it can be a challenge for claimants to obtain disability benefits for mental health conditions that impact their daily life.
However, the same can go for other cognitive impairments that could not only make working difficult, but even dangerous.
What exactly is a cognitive impairment?
Cognitive impairment is often defined as the decline of one’s mental capacity. It can happen naturally as we age, but some conditions can speed up signs and symptoms of impairment, including:
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the effects of these cognitive impairments can lead you or a loved one to experience:
- Issues with memory loss and retention
- Significant changes in mood and behavior
- Problems with vision, speaking and judgment
- Difficulty completing everyday tasks
All of these symptoms effect different individuals to varying degrees, but they frequently impact one’s ability to work safely.
Are cognitive impairments covered for benefits?
Many individuals find ways to cope with the effects of cognitive impairments in the workplace, but there are times when that becomes impossible. When a person in no longer able to compensate for their cognitive impairments, it can make trying to work not only a risk to them, but to those around them, as well.
Most people worry about their financial health and ability to support their family when they face situations like this. For many, disability insurance provided through their employers can help lessen this worry. But, it can be difficult for you to obtain those benefits, due to disability insurance denials. Here at ERISA Law Center, we have experience in dealing with the denials and help many claimants obtain benefits that have been denied and/or terminated.