Most of the individuals who submit Social Security Disability claims will have to wait more than a year before actually receiving the disability benefits they are entitled to. While the initial Social Security Disability application process only takes an individual about three to four months to complete, nearly 70 percent of disability claims are denied during the initial stage of the application process. This results in the need for a disability appeal, which can take years to complete.
Understanding the specifics of your disabling condition and how the SSA reviews claims based on your diagnosis can shed light on the Social Security Disability application process, eliminating some of the mystery. If you would like to understand how the SSA reviews claims based on Glycogen Storage Disease II, and how to increase your chances of obtaining an approval of your Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income due to this diagnosis, the following information will help.
Glycogen Storage Disease Type II Condition and Symptoms
Glycogen Storage Disease Type II, also known as Pompe Disease, is a rare genetic condition that affects approximately one in every 40,000 live births. The disease is caused by a genetic mutation that results in a deficiency of the alpha-glucosidase enzyme. The body needs this enzyme in order to break down the stored sugar that the body uses for energy. Because babies who are born with Glycogen Storage Disease Type II lack this enzyme, the body accumulates excessive amounts of this sugar, which results in damage to the heart and skeletal muscles.
There are three major forms of Glycogen Storage Disease Type II that are recognized; including infantile, juvenile and adult-onset. The infantile form of the disorder usually presents itself by six months of age and progresses rapidly. This form of the disorder is the most fatal. The adult form tends to progress more slowly and the heart is usually not affected. Patients who suffer from adult-onset Glycogen Storage Disease Type II are usually affected by muscle weakness that presents itself between the ages of twenty and sixty. Ultimately, these patients will suffer respiratory failure, but it will take much longer for the disease to meet its end than it does in the infantile form.
If you have been diagnosed with Glycogen Storage Disease Type II and are suffering from symptoms that make it imposable to maintain full time employment, you should file an application for Social Security Disability benefits with the Social Security Administration.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Glycogen Storage Disease Type II
Glycogen Storage Disease Type II is included in the Social Security Administration's published Medical Listings. If you are filing a Social Security Disability claim for a child who is suffering from the infantile form of the disorder, you may be able to qualify for benefits in under a month since the condition qualifies for processing under the SSA's Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
If you are filing for disability benefits with the juvenile or adult-onset form of Glycogen Storage Disease Type II, you will not qualify for processing under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines. Instead, you will have to undergo the standard application process.
If you have enough medical evidence to prove that your condition meets a published listing in the SSA's Blue Book, you may be able to qualify for disability benefits during the initial stage of the application process. However, if you do not have sufficient medical evidence proving that your condition meets or exceeds the criteria of a published Medical Listing in the SSA's Blue Book, you will need to pursue the disability appeal process. This is why it is so important to provide full copies of your medical records and written statements from treating physicians when submitting your disability claim.
Glycogen Storage Disease Type II and Your Social Security Disability Case
As stated earlier, if your Social Security Disability claim is being filed for a case of infantile Pompe Disease, chances are that your application will be approved in just a few short weeks due to the severity of the disorder and the SSA's Compassionate Allowances guidelines. If, however, you are filing a claim for adult-onset Glycogen Storage Disease Type II, it may be a bit more difficult to obtain the disability benefits you need.
If your initial application for benefits is not approved by the Social Security Administration, you will need to file a disability appeal and will likely need to make an appearance before an Administrative Law Judge. It is in your best interests to have a Social Security Disability attorney or advocate representing you during this appeal process. Statistics show that your chances of successfully overturning an denied disability claim are significantly increased with proper legal representation.
To learn more about hiring a Social Security Disability lawyer or to obtain a free evaluation of your disability claim based on a diagnosis of Glycogen Storage Disease Type II, simply fill out the form.
