Can you receive disability benefits for lupus? The answer is yes if a licensed healthcare provider proves the existence of the disease by performing several different types of diagnostic tests. According to the medical guidelines created by the Social Security Administration (SSA), you must demonstrate that you suffer from severe symptoms of the disease that prevents you from working. Knowing the answer, “Can you get disability for lupus” often depends on whether an applicant works with a Social Security disability attorney.
Is Lupus a Disability?
Yes, lupus is a disability if you satisfy the requirements published in the SSA medical guide called the Blue Book. First, lupus must list in the Blue Book as a disease that qualifies applicants for Social Security disability benefits. The SSA lists lupus under Section 14.0 of the Blue Book, which addresses immune system disorders. According to the Blue Book, you might be eligible for financial assistance if lupus has either impacted two or more organs with moderate severity or the disease results in frequent fevers, fatigue, and malaise. Involuntary weight loss, as well as a significant decrease in the ability to complete normal daily functions, also can indicate the presence of lupus.
To prove you suffer from the symptoms of lupus and thus qualify for Social Security disability benefits, your primary physician must run a series of diagnostic tests that can include MRIs, x-rays, and CAT scans. The more lupus negatively impacts your life, the better chance the SSA approves your disability claim.
Types of Lupus Conditions That Are a Disability
Lupus comes in several different forms, with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) representing the most common form of the disease. SLE triggers severe inflammation in the skin, joints, and kidneys, as well as negatively impacts the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Lupus limited to the skin is a form of lupus that targets the skin. Certain prescribed medications can produce lupus symptoms in people that have not contracted SLE. Neonatal lupus erythematosus adversely affects infants that carry the antibodies anti-La, anti-Ro, and anti-RNP. Mainly boys contract a form of lupus called childhood lupus.
How to Get Disability Benefits for Lupus
The likelihood of the team of medical examiners at the SSA approving your disability claim largely depends on the medical evidence you submit with your claim. Your healthcare provider attaches the results of diagnostic tests to demonstrate the presence of lupus. A detailed explanation of treatments and physical therapy sessions informs the SSA about your progress towards making a full recovery. You also should attach copies of your most recent bank statements and timekeeping records to show you have not worked for at least 12 consecutive months.
You have two options for starting the claim process. You can initiate the claim process by calling the SSA at 800-772-1213 or completing the online form. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants completed the claim filing process in person at the closest local SSA office. Call the toll-free number to find out how the SSA wants you to finalize the claim filing process. If the SSA denies your claim for disability benefits, the next step involves filing an appeal for reconsideration.
Get Help with Your Lupus Disability Claim
With the SSA denying a majority of disability claims, working with a disability lawyer can improve your chances of receiving approval for financial assistance. A disability attorney helps you collect and organize the most convincing evidence, as well as monitors the progress of your claim. Schedule a free case evaluation to get the help you need to receive approval of your claim by the SSA.
