If you have Liver Disease and want to be eligible for disability benefits, your liver disease diagnosis must be severe. There are hundreds of conditions that qualify for disability benefits, but applicants must remember whatever their diagnosis, their condition must be severe enough to qualify. If your medical condition due to liver disease is so severe that you are out of work, you may qualify for a disability benefit. You will need to be able to prove that you will be unable to work for at least 12 months.
Blue Book Listing
The symptoms associated with liver disease that may affect daily life could include the following:
- skin and eyes that look yellowish
- abdominal swelling and pain
- swelling of ankles and legs
- itchy skin
- dark colored urine
- pale colored stool
- chronic fatigue
- vomiting
Severe liver disease can be found in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) Blue Book listing (5.05). This includes hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other chronic liver conditions. If you have had a liver transplant, you may qualify for disability benefits under listing 5.09. If your liver disease causes you to lose a significant amount of weight loss you may be covered under listing 5.08.
To diagnose liver disease, an ultrasound, CT scan and a MRI scan are able to detect liver damage. In order to diagnose liver illness and search for evidence of liver damage, a tissue sample (biopsy) from your liver may be taken.
Applying for a Disability Benefit
Applying for disability benefits is not an easy process. 2/3 of initial applications are initially denied. This may be due to technical problems with an application or disqualification based on unsuitable medical information. However, working with an attorney can assist you in comprehending the SSA's defined criteria and associated medical requirements.
What You and Your Family Might Experience if You Have a Disabling Medical Condition
One of the key problems that occur due to being diagnosed with a serious medical condition like liver disease is that it is hard for you and your family to bear for a number of reasons such as:
- being in a constant state of financial struggle
- feeling overly stressed out because of your disability and the potential financial hardship it may bring
- being unable to perform supposedly simple everyday tasks without assistance
- suffering psychologically and/or emotionally because of your illness
- feeling unable to partake in the most, if not all, of the once-fun activities
- not earning enough money for your family to grow and survive.
Next Steps
It is never easy to win a claim for a disability benefit, but seeking help from an attorney will help to ensure you have completed the application form fully and provided sufficient medical evidence which proves you are unable to work for at least 12 months due to your liver disease diagnosis. You can help yourself today by completing a free case evaluation.
