{"id":469267,"date":"2021-03-31T18:55:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-31T22:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=469267"},"modified":"2021-03-31T18:55:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-31T22:55:00","slug":"new-social-security-rules-affecting-bone-joint-spinal-and-related-medical-conditions-to-take-effect-april-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/new-social-security-rules-affecting-bone-joint-spinal-and-related-medical-conditions-to-take-effect-april-2\/","title":{"rendered":"New Social Security Rules Affecting Bone, Joint, Spinal and Related Medical Conditions To Take Effect April 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nAllsup explains importance of changes to musculoskeletal listing for Social Security disability claims
\n<\/h2>\n
\n

Belleville, Illinois, March 31, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Social Security Administration (SSA) is implementing revisions to its listing of impairments, specifically for disorders of the musculoskeletal system effective April 2, 2021, and this will have an effect on thousands of individuals with disabilities, according to Allsup<\/a>, <\/strong>which has helped more than 350,000 people receive their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits nationwide.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The revised criteria for the musculoskeletal listing were announced<\/a> in the Federal Register in December, and changes will apply to all applications for SSDI benefits filed or pending on or after April 2, 2021. Musculoskeletal disorders refer to a variety of conditions affecting bones, muscles, joints, the spine and connective tissues. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

In December, the SSA stated revisions to the medical listings reflect the adjudicative experience, advances in medical knowledge and comments from the public following the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in May 2018.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThese new revisions will increase the number of SSDI denials as it will be more difficult for people with disabilities to meet the very stringent criteria for certain musculoskeletal conditions,\u201d said T.J. Geist, director of Claims at Allsup. \u201cHowever, while some applicants may not meet these new revised requirements and may be denied, they will continue to have the option to request a hearing with a medical professional or vocational expert.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

These new rules highlight the vital importance of having an expert SSDI claims representative such as Allsup to assist individuals with disabilities when filing their initial disability application<\/a>, and \u2013 if their claim is denied \u2013 having someone to advocate for their claim when filing an appeal.<\/p>\n

\n \u00a0<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

The final rules reflect comments from advocacy groups, legal services organizations, medical organizations and individual commenters during the 60-day public comment period. While several commenters requested the rules be withdrawn due to the impact they may have on the number of application-level denials, the likelihood of delays and the increased need for hearings, the SSA declined to withdraw this final rule.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some public comments that were considered but not adopted included requests to use plain language terminology instead of medical terminology, such as \u201cpins and needles\u201d instead of paresthesia, requests to clarify which sources are considered to be acceptable medical sources, and that physical therapists be considered acceptable medical sources.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, some public concerns were addressed with these revisions:<\/p>\n

\n