Disability question.. Please inquire.?

Question

My fiance has been "disabled" since she was born. When born, the doctor pulled on her arm and severed one of the nerves. Long story short; she cannot feel anything on her right hand. It works just fine, but she's accidently burnt, bruised and cut it several times without knowing, the past few years. Also, she can only raise it half-way up her body and can only rotate her wrist half-way as well... this is hindering some of her abilities.

My question is, is there anyway we can get her on disability for this? And how would we go about it.. we're stumped. Is this the right thing to do?

Serious answers only please....

Answer 1

Disability payments are based on whether or not the disability prevents a person from working. Since it's probably too late to sue the doctor for malpractice and have his insurance cover the costs of treatment or vocational rehabilitation, and since state disability (if it exists at all) is usually tied to unemployment compensation, it's probably federal disability (through the social security office) if it's anything.

And as I say, it has to do with whether or not she can work. Since she's had it all her life, presumably by now she has adapted pretty well, and probably has done jobs which do not require the use of the bad arm in ways that don't work.

When I was in college, I had a friend with cerebral palsy who had quite limited use of one arm, and she adapted very well indeed. She worked in a library, and last I saw her (many years ago), she was applying to college in library science, to see if she could become a full-fledged librarian. I'm betting she made it, but I lost touch with her.

Answer 2

Her parents should have sued the doctor when she was born but that probably wouldn't help anymore. However, that is not a huge disability and thus she probably can't be on disability since she can still work and has the use of the other limbs. I have a bilateral hearing loss and obtained help from state disability services in the way of getting hearing aids but that is all (and all I need). I hesitate to say it is the "right" or "wrong" thing to do, but keep in mind there are thousands of people who need the system and cannot get enough since there are also people who abuse the system.

I have linked below the federal website for disabilities and by searching google or yahoo with "disability services (your state here)" you can also find state information. Try calling and seeing what they say.

You don't say what kind of education she has but there are hundreds of jobs someone can do with only one fully functional hand so consider looking around for jobs and perhaps higher education in the fields that she can do.

Good luck to you both.

Answer 3

Disability is for people that have a disability that limits them from work.Considering its only her hand and im assuming she is not in excruciating pain i doubt this is possible.Contact your local government for disability guide lines.

Answer 4

you can probably sue the dr.

call a lawyer.

there has to be something you can get.

aww poor her.