If you have been the recipient of a liver transplant, the SSA’s Blue Book may help you work out what medical evidence you will require to support your Social Security benefits claim after a liver transplant.
7,800 liver transplants take place annually and it normally takes six months to recover from this type of surgery but often this is extended to 12 months. This long recovery period means you may qualify for disability benefits after a liver transplant.
How the Blue Book Can Help You Medically Qualify with a Liver Transplant
A liver transplant is a medical condition listed in the SSA’s Blue Book that meets eligibility criteria for social security disability benefits. It is listed in Section 5.09 of the Digestive System in the Blue Book where it states that each liver transplant recipient will be eligible for disability benefits for at least 12 months from the date of the transplant.
What Medical Evidence Do I Need to Win a Liver Transplant Claim?
The more evidence you are able to provide describing the effects of the liver transplant in your disability benefit’s application, the higher the chance you will have to meet the eligible requirements to get disability benefits. After 12 months following your liver transplant, the SSA will reconsider your eligibility for payments by determining if your symptoms are still considered to be sufficiently disabling to prevent you returning to work.
You will be assessed on your “residual impairments.” You will have to provide the right evidence to show you are still not able to work. This includes the following:
- Confirmation from a gastroenterologist of your liver transplant;
- Pathology notes from your liver biopsy;
- Imaging tests confirming your liver disease including ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP);
- Blood tests showing how well your liver is functioning like ALT and AST,
- Hospital inpatient notes;
- Progress notes from anyone who has been directly responsible for providing health care such as a rehabilitation specialist or psychologist.
- How well your body is functioning since the liver transplant, including a full medical appraisal of all parts of your body;
- Any health complications that have occurred in other parts of your body since the liver transplant.
- If any rejection has taken place and how severe it was.
- Any negative responses to treatments, like adverse reactions to your immunosuppressant treatment.
You can use the Blue Book as a guide to determine what medical evidence can help with your claim for disability benefits after a liver transplant.
Help Filing for Disability Benefits After a Liver Transplant
A lawyer may be able to help you with your application for disability benefits following a liver transplant by interpreting the evidence in the Blue Book you will be asked to provide to support your social security disability claim. Your lawyer can make sure you have all the evidence required to prove that you are disabled by the liver transplant so that you are eligible for the disability benefits you deserve. Complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website.
