The Social Security Administration (SSA) has effectively made a change to the term, “mental retardation”. Effective September 3, 2013, the SSA has replaced mental retardation with “intellectual disability” with regard to they way discuss the listing of impairments. The SSA noted, “This change reflects the widespread adoption of the term ‘intellectual disability’ by Congress, government agencies, and public and private organizations.”
The SSA change comes almost three years after Congress passed “Rosa’s Law” that changed the term in specified federal laws; despite the change by Congress Title II and Title XVI of the Social Security Act were left unchanged. The new change will not have an effect on your disability claim but will effect the verbiage used by the members of the SSA, the Administrative Law Judge, and your social security disability attorney.
While the wording has changed, the way the SSA will handle your claim should not. However, navigating the SSA process is often complicated and burdensome. If you are on the Gulf Coast, from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, call the social security disability lawyers at Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. to help assist you through all processes of your disability claim.