Each and every year, millions of people apply for Social Security Disability benefits. Unfortunately, nearly 70 percent of these claims are denied by the Social Security Administration (SSA) during the initial stage of the application process. When an individual is suffering from a severe condition, such as Wilson's Disease, and they are unable to work due to their disability, they may wonder how their condition qualifies them for disability benefits. If you are wondering how the SSA reviews claims based on a diagnosis of Wilson's Disease, the following information will help you understand the Social Security Disability claim process and how your disability may affect your eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits.

Wilson's Disease Condition and Symptoms

Wilson's Disease, also known as hepatolenticular degeneration, is a disorder that results in an accumulation of copper in the tissue of the body. This accumulation of copper results in neurological and psychiatric symptoms as well as liver disease. Wilson's Disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive genetic pattern. While the disease is usually treated with medication that can reduce the amount of copper that the body absorbs, in some cases the effects of the disease are severe and require more drastic measures, such as a liver transplant.

Wilson's Disease is linked to mutations of the ATP7B gene. When a single abnormal copy of this gene is present in an individual's DNA, symptoms will not develop. However, when a child inherits a copy of the mutated gene from both parents, they have a significant chance of developing the disorder. If an individual does inherit two copies of the mutated gene, the symptoms of the disorder will normally appear between the ages of 6 and 20 years.

The symptoms of Wilson's Disease will vary depending on the severity of the condition, how early the condition was caught and what treatments are being provided. Common symptoms of Wilson's Disease include clumsiness, depression, speech difficulties, difficulty swallowing, drooling, easy bruising, fatigue, involuntary shaking, joint pain, appetite loss, nausea, skin rash, arm and leg swelling and jaundice.

When an individual is diagnosed with Wilson's Disease, treatment will be focused on reducing the amount of copper in the tissue of the body. Exercise and physical therapy may also be used to address the symptoms of the disease. In some cases, when treatment is not effective and organs have been damaged, surgery such as organ transplant may be necessary.

It is understandable that many of the individuals who suffer from Wilson's Disease will be unable to perform substantial gainful activity due to the symptoms and effects of their condition. In these cases, an application for Social Security Disability benefits may help offset some of the financial stress caused by the condition.

Filing for Social Security Disability with Wilson's Disease

The SSA does recognize Wilson's Disease under Section 5.0 of the SSA's disability guidelines. However, being diagnosed with Wilson's Disease is not enough in and of itself to qualify an individual for Social Security Disability benefits. You will need to prove to the SSA that your condition completely prevents you from performing any type of work activity. In order to do this, you will need to provide sufficient medical evidence with your application for benefits.

When submitting your Social Security Disability claim, you will need to include complete copies of your medical records and be sure to complete the residual functional capacity forms with complete and detailed answers so that the adjudicator who reviews your file will understand how your condition affects your quality of life.

Because not all cases of Wilson's Disease are the same, the SSA reviews claims based on the condition on a case-by-case basis. This means that you will have to prove, beyond a doubt, that your condition makes it impossible for you to work if you hope to be awarded benefits during the initial stage of the application process.

Wilson's Disease and Your Social Security Disability Case

If you have enough medical evidence to prove that your illness completely prevents you from performing any type of work activity, you may be awarded benefits during the initial stage of the application process. If, however, there is any question as to whether or not your condition meet's the SSA's guidelines or that you are unable to work, you will likely have to pursue the disability appeal process.

When filing a disability, you should consider retaining the services of a qualified Social Security Disability attorney or advocate. The services of a quality advocate or attorney can significantly increase your chances of being awarded the benefits you need. Statistics show that individuals who obtain proper representation during all stages of the disability application process are more likely to be awarded benefits than those who choose to represent themselves.

Muscular dystrophy can be a very severe and debilitating condition. Individuals who suffer from it may find it hard to accomplish the simplest of everyday, ordinary tasks. It goes without saying that full-time work activity is impossible for these people. Unfortunately, without any means of income and a lack of medical insurance, these individuals suffer from severe financial stress. It is in cases like these that Social Security Disability benefits are intended to help.

Short bowel syndrome, also known as SBS, is an oftentimes painful and debilitating condition to live with. It is not uncommon for the disease to interfere with an individual's ability to perform normal day-to-day activities, let alone maintain full-time employment. The resulting lack of income can be devastating both financially and emotionally. It is in cases such as these that Social Security Disability benefits are intended to help.

Finding out that you have a rare or serious disorder can be very stressful. If you are unable to go back to work, the bills could to start to pile up. Fortunately, Social Security disability benefits are always an option, but the disability application process can be rather long and tedious. If your initial application for disability benefits is denied, it could take up to 2 years to get approved. Thankfully, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has recognized that there are certain cases in which a more rapid timeline is necessary.

The SSA has created the Compassionate Allowances list, which are a collection of severe or rare disorders that automatically qualify a person for disability benefits. If you have been diagnosed with a disease that is listed as a Compassionate Allowance, you will be able to go through a hastened process when applying for benefits. This means that instead of the usual three to six months that it would normally take for the application, you will be able to complete it in just a few weeks. Under normal circumstances you would still have to wait to start collecting your benefits, but with a Compassionate Allowance disorder you can start receiving your disability pay as soon as the next benefits cycle begins.

One of the conditions that qualify for a compassionate allowance exception is Salivary Tumors.

Salivary Tumors – Condition and Symptoms

Salivary Tumors are a rare type of cancer that forms in the salivary glands on and under the floor of the mouth and throughout the salivary glands located at the back of the throat, near the mouth, and at the back of the cheek, near the ear. There are two particularly atypical forms of this cancer known as anaplastic small cell carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma. These two types have much worse prognoses than the more common forms of Salivary Tumors.

Anaplastic Small Cell Carcinoma of the Salivary Glands is a neuroendocrine tumor that metastasizes rather aggressively. Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Salivary Glands is an extremely rare tumor that forms in the cells lining the mouth and salivary glands. Adenosquamous Carcinoma causes visible changes to the lining of the mucus-secreting areas of the mouth, including patchy reddening, thickening or hardening and formation of ulcers. The ulcers are usually painful.

Symptoms of Salivary Tumors include a lump in the cheek, lip, jaw or ear area, difficulty swallowing or opening up one’s mouth widely, fluids draining from the ear, and numbness or weakness in the face that does not go away.
Prognosis is poor for both types of carcinomas, with patients exhibiting Small Cell Carcinoma of the Salivary Glands faring only slightly better than those with Adenosquamous Carcinoma.

Filing for Social Security Disability with Salivary Tumors

If you have been diagnosed with Salivary Tumors that are of either of the two aggressive types of carcinomas, then you are eligible for Social Security disability benefits under the Compassionate Allowances act. Thus, you will not have to spend several months waiting to be approved for benefits.

Although you can feel confident that you will be approved for benefits if you have a disorder listed as a Compassionate Allowance, it is still a good idea to get in touch with a qualified Social Security disability lawyer. A Social Security disability lawyer can help by reviewing your case and making sure all of your paperwork is in the correct order. More often than not, a claim may be delayed or denied simply because your paperwork is out of order or the correct medical documentation is not given.

Every Compassionate Allowances disorder requires a different sort of medical documentation as proof of the disease. For Salivary Tumors, it is important to have a pathology report of a needle biopsy or surgical specimen that shows Anaplastic Small Cell Carcinoma or Adenosquamous Carcinoma.

Your Salivary Tumors Social Security Disability Case

It is extremely stressful to be diagnosed with such a serious disorder and also have to worry about applying for Social Security disability benefits. This is why your best bet is to retain the services of an experienced disability lawyer. He or she will be well-versed in the ins and outs of the system and will be able to help you throughout each step of your case.

If you have already begun the process, you can still seek help from a Social Security disability lawyer at any time. If you have denied, a disability attorney will be represent you at your disability hearing. Statistics show that your chances of being approved at the hearing stage are improved if you have legal representation.

Parents whose children are diagnosed with debilitating or deadly diseases face unique challenges, both emotionally and financially. Like any parent, you want your child to have the best care they can possibly have. And, as much as you hope and pray for a cure to whatever ails your child, until a cure is found, you want your child to have the best quality of life possible.

For many parents, this means making tough decisions about whether to continue working or stay home and take care of a child with special needs. Whether you decide to stay home or continue working and hire contract nursing help for times when you need to be at work, this can cause a great deal of financial strain.

Fortunately, children with debilitating conditions which cause them to fail to develop at an age appropriate level are often qualified for Social Security disability benefits. There are many types of disorders, diseases, and other medically verifiable conditions which may qualify your son or daughter for Social Security disability benefits such as SSI, Medicare and Medicaid.

In most cases, you will need to go through the Social Security Disability claims process. This usually takes about 6 months. For those whose claims are denied (and nearly 70% of claims are denied initially), the appeals process can take several more months. In some instances, the appeals process can drag on for several years.

There are some conditions, however, which always meet the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s requirements for disability. These conditions, called Compassionate Allowances, include several rare diseases, cancers, and neurological disorders. They even contain a number of conditions which typically affect infants and children, such as MPS III.

If you or your child has a condition which is on the Compassionate Allowance Listings, you won’t need to worry about the strenuous claims and appeals processes. Instead, your claim will be shuffled to the front, and you can expect an approval within three weeks. Generally, actual benefit payments start the next benefit cycle after approval.

MPS III (Sanfilippo Syndrome) – Condition and Symptoms

MPS III, also called Sanfilippo Syndrome, is a disease which affects the functioning of enzymes which are needed to break down sugar molecules in the body’s mucus and other fluids. Because those with MPS III lack these enzymes (or have malfunctioning enzymes), carbohydrate chains form in their blood and tissues in the body. This results in progressive damage which is permanent and irreparable.

The disease typically begins to show symptoms in children who are between two and six years old. Symptoms include neurological damage, deafness or hearing loss, degeneration of the corneas, hernias, growth of excessive body hair, clawing of the hands, stiffness in the joints, coarse facial features, retardation, respiratory infections, heart disease, and sleep apnea. Because of the loss of cognitive ability, this condition often leads to behavioral problems as well.

Most children with MPS III live to become teenagers, and some even live into early adulthood. Some children with MPS III do pass away at earlier ages. There is no cure for MPS III, nor is there any treatment shown to slow its effects. Most medical treatment currently being employed centers on improving the child’s quality of life, relieving pain and treating the conditions which result from the disease. In some cases, exercise and physical therapy can help hold off joint and mobility problems.

Filing for Social Security Disability with MPS III (Sanfilippo Syndrome)

If you have a child with MPS III, you qualify for a Compassionate Allowance. This means, of course, that you automatically qualify for Social Security disability benefits. It also means that you will receive your benefits much faster than those with less serious (or less obviously disabling) conditions. You should expect to start receiving benefits within a month to six weeks of the time you applied.

You will want to make sure that all of your medical documentation is in order. One of the leading causes of delays in the Social Security disability system is incorrect or incomplete medical documentation. For a child with MPS III, you will want to make sure that the documentation includes the clinical exam which first diagnosed the impairments which led to the diagnosis of MPS III. You should also make sure that the results of all lab tests which were conducted are included. These should show the results of genetic tests as well as enzyme study and urine tests. Finally, make sure that copies of the results of any MRO or CT scan are included.

Your MPS III Social Security Disability Case

Even though there is no question about your eligibility for Social Security disability benefits – after all, your son or daughter qualifies for a compassionate allowance with MPS III – it’s still a good idea to have a Social Security attorney review your case. Not only does this ensure that all of the paperwork is in order, but it also takes a lot of the stress and strain away from you.

The Social Security Administration (SSA)’s Compassionate Allowances program is designed to identify claimants who have conditions which by their very nature qualify those who have them for as disabled. While some conditions may or may not qualify you for Social Security disability benefits, depending on the severity and your residual functioning capacity, those who have one of the listed Compassionate Allowance conditions automatically qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

It can be very stressful to find out that your child has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition. To make matters worse, often money is an issue with a special needs child, due to the fact that parents might need to work less in order to care for their kid. This can create financial constraints on the whole family. Fortunately, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can provide some financial relief.