This year alone millions of disabled Americans will file for Social Security Disability benefits as a result of a disability that prevents them from maintaining full-time work activity. These hard-working taxpayers are used to relying upon their paychecks for financial support. When a long-term disability interrupts these paychecks the bills can begin to spiral quickly out of control. Fortunately, in some cases, Social Security Disability benefits can help. While many disability applicants must wait months or years before receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, others who fall under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances guidelines can be approved for benefits in a matter of weeks. Mastocytosis Type IV is one of the conditions that have recently been added to the SSA’s listing of Compassionate Allowances conditions. If you have been diagnosed with mastocytosis Type IV and are wondering how the condition may qualify you for the disability benefits you need, the following information will be of assistance.
Mastocytosis Type IV Condition and Symptoms
Mastocytosis is the name given to a range of disorders that involve the presence of too many CD34+ mast cell precursors and too many mastocytes in the body. The condition can affect both children and adults. The mastocytes are the mast cells in the body that form in the marrow of the bone and migrate through the body’s blood stream to other locations where they serve a broad range of functions. While there are four different classes of mastocytosis, it is Type IV that qualifies an individual for claims processing under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
The signs and symptoms of mastocytosis can vary depending on the severity, type and stage of the disease. Common symptoms of mastocytosis include general fatigue, lesions on the skin, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, intolerance of certain foods and medications, olfactive intolerance, chronic infections, inflammation of the ears, nose and throat, anaphylaxis, low blood pressure, fainting spells, pain in the bone and/or muscles, decreased bone density, recurrent headaches, ocular pain and malabsorption.
The Type IV form of mastocytosis is the form with the poorest prognosis, with most patients not surviving beyond one year after diagnosis.
Unfortunately researchers have yet to determine exactly what causes any of the forms of mastocytosis including mastocytosis Type IV. There have, however, been some triggers noted that may bring on the symptoms of the condition in someone who is diagnosed with the disease. These triggers include cold or heat, medication, emotional stress and bites from certain insects. It is important to note, however, that each person who suffers from the condition will not experience the same triggers.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Mastocytosis Type IV
This year alone the SSA is expected to deny approximately 70 percent of the disability applications that it receives. This means that millions of people will need to file disability appeals in order to obtain the Social Security Disability benefits they may be entitled to. There are already millions of appeals backlogged in the Social Security system. As each new appeal is filed, that backlog becomes larger.
For standard disability appeals, the process normally consists of filing a Request for Reconsideration and a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Due to the backlog of appeals in the system, it can take an applicant well over a year to have such a hearing scheduled. Fortunately for those who have a condition that falls under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines, such a process can be avoided.
The SSA has recognized that those who have been diagnosed with mastocytosis Type IV do not have months or years to wait for disability approval. As such, the condition has been included in the Compassionate Allowances program. That does not mean, however, that you will be automatically approved for benefits – especially if you do not fill out your disability claim forms properly.
When applying for disability benefits based on a case of mastocytosis Type IV it is crucial that you fill out the claim forms in their entirety, answering each and every question with as much detail as possible. It is also imperative that you provide the SSA with enough medical evidence to support your claim for disability benefits under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
Mastocytosis Type IV and Your Social Security Disability Case
If you are applying for Social Security Disability benefits due to a case of mastocytosis Type IV, it may be a good idea to retain the services of a disability lawyer. When you work with a lawyer who practices disability law, your lawyer can ensure that your claim forms are filled out properly and that you furnish the SSA with sufficient objective medical evidence (additionally, make sure you attend your Consultative Examination. This will increase your chances of being approved for benefits under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines and receiving a timely award of your benefits.
