If you are suffering from kidney failure and your application for disability benefits was denied, you have 60 days from receipt of the decision to appeal it.
Kidney failure is a serious condition that can be managed with treatment, including regular dialysis, but in order to submit a strong appeal you need to outline the reasons why you are unable to work as a result of the kidney failure.
These three tips will help you organize your evidence to increase the chances of winning your appeal.
Tip #1 - Clearly Outline All Side Effects
When it comes to kidney failure, sometimes the treatment can be as detrimental as the condition itself.
If you must undergo several rounds of dialysis on a regular basis, it might lead to side effects that make you incapable of working.
Oftentimes the disability applications focus on the underlying condition but fail to consider the treatment and side effects, and these are just as relevant in the appeal as supporting documentation about the kidney failure.
Tip #2 - Obtain Additional Tests and Exams
Kidney failure is the end stage of renal disease. In order to provide more documentation of your inability to work, you might need more tests and additional medical evaluations to outline how the disease is affecting you.
If there are any test results you left out of your initial application, or if your condition has changed in the three to five months since you applied, then your appeal should include additional testing and results.
Tip #3 - Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)
The strongest evidence you can have in your appeal is the residual functional capacity (RFC) assessment, which is completed by your physician.
The RFC outlines the maximum amount of work you are capable of performing with your condition, and it’s an opportunity for your doctor to provide details about your specific condition.
The Social Security Administration bases its decisions on the information you provide and how it compares to the general guidelines in the Blue Book, so the RFC can be very helpful in establishing your inability to work due to your diagnosis.
Get a Free Case Evaluation
Appealing your disability benefits claim for your kidney failure diagnosis can be stressful.
You need to act quickly so you turn in the appeal within the 60-day timeline, and you must gather as much evidence as possible to ensure that the SSA has what they need to rule on your appeal.
You might consider working with a disability attorney who can help you to gather evidence and file your claim.
Disability attorneys are experts in their field.
They know what the SSA is looking for with appeals and they will make sure you have that supporting evidence prior to submitting your claim.
While hiring a disability attorney will not guarantee that your appeal will be approved, it greatly increases your chances of a favorable outcome.
You will not have to pay any fees up front, and you only have to pay if you win your case, so there is very little risk involved.
You’re not only gaining expertise, but you’ll also have peace of mind that you are doing everything you can to win your appeal.
To learn more about how a disability attorney could help with your case, fill out a free case evaluation form.
