If you are suffering from lupus, the SSA’s Blue Book may help you determine what medical evidence you will need to support your Social Security benefits claim.
Lupus affects 1.5 million people in the U.S. with many serious symptoms. As it is an autoimmune disease not only will you experience fatigue, inflammation, and joint pain and stiffness, your immune system is also likely to be compromised which means you are at higher risk of developing an infection.
Lupus affects its victims in different ways but some are unable to work because of the effects of the disease.
How the Blue Book Can Help You Medically Qualify with Lupus
Lupus can be found listed in the Blue Book under the Immune System Disorders section.
To meet the requirements of the Blue Book listing for lupus you need to have at least two of your body systems or organs that affected by the disease and you must also show ongoing symptoms such as fever, fatigue or weight loss.
The symptoms must make it hard for you to function socially, complete jobs in a normal time frame and take part in daily activities which include bathing, cooking, cleaning the home and going shopping.
Most people with the most severe form of lupus can satisfy the Blue Book listing requirements. If you are unable to provide sufficient proof of your impairment caused by lupus you can ask your doctor to conduct a residual functional capacity (RFC) test which provides the evidence of what you cannot do while suffering from lupus.
What Medical Evidence Do I Need to Win a Lupus Claim?
The more evidence you are able to provide describing the effects of lupus in your disability benefit’s application, the higher the chance you will have to be eligible to receive disability benefits.
When lodging your application there is some evidence you will need to include to support your claim which are the following:
- results of tests used to eliminate other medical conditions that may have similar symptoms to lupus;
- reports provided by your doctor about the effects of treatment over a period of 3 or more months but preferably 12;
- what prescription medications you are using and their specific effects on your symptoms;
- description of hospital stays and treatment provided;
- test results showing the onset of kidney or heart disease, seizures, bone loss, anemia, etc.
Help Filing for Disability Benefits with Lupus
A lawyer may be able help you with your application for disability benefits with lupus by interpreting the evidence in the Blue Book you need to prove your impairment caused by the disease.
Your lawyer will ensure you have all the evidence you need to prove that you are disabled by lupus so that you get the disability benefits you deserve.
