How Much Does Disability Pay With Liver Disease?

There are several different kinds of liver disease that can be debilitating. If you have liver disease, it might qualify for disability benefits. Examples of these disabling conditions include chronic liver disorders, autoimmune hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Sometimes the liver disease can make working impossible. At other times, the plan of treatment for your condition can have disabling side effects and problems that make working impossible.

Further Reading: What Conditions Qualify For Disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees two monthly disability programs. To determine how much you might be able to receive as a disability payment, you receive an annual statement with estimates of disability and retirement benefits as well as your family’s eligibility for survivors’ benefits.

Is Liver Disease Classed As a Disability?

Yes, liver disease is recognized as a disability by the Social Security Administration. The Blue Book, where all of the conditions that are recognized as disabilities are listed, has a chapter for liver disease.

Cirrhosis is also considered to be a disabling condition if you meet the requirements that the SSA has set.

Hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other chronic liver conditions are covered by listing 5.05 in the Blue Book. The listing requirements for liver disease are very specific and you must have medical documentation showing that your liver disease is severe.

The requirements vary based on the condition you have but to qualify for disability benefits with cirrhosis you must have experienced at least one of these:

gastrointestinal hemorrhage requiring a blood transfusion
ascites (excess fluid in the peritoneal cavity) or hydrothorax (fluid in the pleural cavity)
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
hepatorenal syndrome
hepatopulmonary syndrome
hepatic encephalopathy, or
end-stage liver disease.

If your liver disease is so severe that you needed a liver transplant you can qualify for disability benefits with listing 5.09. You will be automatically eligible for disability benefits for one year starting on the date of your transplant, and you can reapply the next year if you still can’t work.

If you have experienced severe weight loss as a result of liver disease and you don’t qualify for benefits under any listing you can apply for SSDI until listing 5.08. All of the Blue book listings in chapter 5 deal with liver disease.

What Happens When You Are Approved With Liver Disease?

If your liver disease disability claim is approved by the SSA, you will start being paid disability benefits from the sixth month after your date of disability, according to SSA guidelines. Liver disease can lead to nausea, pain, decreased mobility, and fatigue. Any of these symptoms can keep you from performing work duties. To show the severity of your condition, you will need to provide hard medical evidence that indicates your diagnosis, the severity of symptoms, the restrictions and limitations, and how you are unable to perform regular tasks.

Back Pay and Liver Disease

A disability claim can be challenging. Be sure to make a list of everywhere you received medical care, the dates of service, and the contact information – including phone number and the address. You must provide extensive supporting documentation that indicates your diagnosis, the prognosis, the treatment plan, and how you are affected. The SSA will award backpay as soon as you are approved for disability benefits with backpay dating back to the time of your original application for disability benefits and continuing until the date your claim is approved. The first installment of backpay usually occurs within 60 days of the SSA approving your benefits.

Retroactive Payments and a Stroke

Retroactive payments are often awarded by the SSA. These are payments that can date back up to 12 months before the disability application for liver disease was filed with the SSA. Retroactive pay is only applicable if you can prove you were disabled during that specified timeframe before filing your disability application. Any applicant wanting to get retroactive disability benefits for liver disease must show that they met the criteria for disability benefits at least 5 months before filing their application for disability.

How To Calculate How Much You Could Receive With A Stroke

The SSA determines your disability benefits amount by reviewing how much you paid into Social Security taxes. This is done by reviewing your earnings history and finding your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME). After having determined your AIME, the SSA will determine your primary insurance amount (PIA) and calculate your monthly disability benefits for liver disease. Your age will play a role in calculating that total.

Applying For Disability Benefits

If you are unable to work because of liver disease, you should apply for Social Security Disability benefits. You can start the application online at www.ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

Additional Resources

Get My Free Evaluation