Can I Qualify for Disability Benefits for an Endocrine Disorder?

Your endocrine system is a complex network of glands and organs which affect many bodily functions that we often take for granted, like how our bones and tissues grow, how our heart beats, and even our ability to conceive a child.

This system includes:

• Adrenal Glands
• Hypothalamus
• Ovaries
• Pineal Gland
• Pituitary Gland
• Testes
• Thyroid and Parathyroid 

The endocrine system is responsible for the production and delivery of hormones throughout the body to control and coordinate your body’s metabolism, energy level, reproduction, growth and development. It regulates our response to injury, stress and mood.

Disorders of the endocrine system can arise if your hormone levels are too high or too low, or if your body doesn’t respond to hormones the way it should. You may develop diabetes, thyroid disease, obesity, growth disorders, pancreatitis, sexual dysfunction, or any one of a host of other hormone-related disorders.

If you have a disabling condition as the result of an endocrine disorder which prevents you from being able to hold onto a job, you may be eligible for financial assistance through one of the Social Security Disability programs.

There are two disability programs: Social Security Disability Insurance, which is known as SSDI, and Supplemental Security Income, commonly referred to as SSI.

SSDI pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have a disability, and you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes recently enough. SSI, on the other hand, is based on financial need. The Social Security Administration (SSA) says, “It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income.”

To determine if you are medically eligible for disability benefits, Social Security has a set of procedures in place. These procedures are published in a handbook known as the “Blue Book,” and it includes a list of various disabling conditions known as “listings.”

If your condition matches the criteria in the Blue Book, you may be awarded disability benefits through Social Security.

Section 9 of the Blue Book is devoted to endocrine disorders, but the listing does not deal with the qualifications for Social Security Disability benefits directly. Rather, endocrine disorders are evaluated based on the other body or mental/emotional functions which they affect.

• Adrenal Gland Disorders are evaluated using the criteria for the musculoskeletal system found in Section 1, the cardiovascular system under Section 4, the digestive system in Section 5, or mental disorders listed in Section 12.
• Diabetes/Hyperglycemia/other Pancreatic Gland Disorders can affect many body systems and functions. They may be evaluated under any of the criteria which match your condition. The listings can be found for cardiovascular conditions in Section 4, digestive illnesses in Section 5, neurological ailments in Section 11, and mental disorders in Section 12.
• Parathyroid Gland Disorders affect the calcium levels in body tissues and may be evaluated as applicable under Section 1 for musculoskeletal issues, under Section 2 for special senses and speech, Section 6 for genitourinary impairments, or Section 11 for neurological disorders.
• Pituitary Gland Disorders can cause hormonal imbalances and may be evaluated under any appropriate section based on the affected functions or body systems.
• Thyroid Gland Disorders are typically evaluated under the listings in Section 4 for cardiovascular disorders, or Section 5 for digestive impairments. If you have a hormonal imbalance which has caused one or more strokes, your claim may also be evaluated under Section 11 for neurological conditions. If the imbalance in hormones is causing anxiety or mental/emotional disorders, your condition may be also evaluated under Section 12 for mental disorders.

Only a few people meet the Blue Book standards. However, there is a second way to qualify: demonstrate that the symptoms of your impairment prevent you from sustaining full-time competitive employment on a consistent and reliable basis.

To prove that your endocrine disorder prevents you from maintaining full-time employment, you must start with a diagnosis and consistent medical treatment.

But a diagnosis alone is not enough to qualify you for benefits. Your doctor should also explain how your medical conditions limit your ability to work. This is usually done using a form called the “Residual Functional Capacity” (RFC) form.

The RFC form is separate from the medical records and helps your doctor explain your limitations. To decide whether you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits the Social Security Administration will consider the RFC form along with other medical evidence.

All qualifying disabilities must be expected to last and keep you out of work for at least 12 months.

Endocrine disorders are often the cause of other impairments. You should also include these in your application for benefits. Social Security must take into consideration all your impairments when deciding whether you qualify for disability benefits.

If you have a disabling injury or illness and your condition has made it impossible for you to hold a job, contact the Chicago disability lawyers at Nash Disability Law for a FREE evaluation of your situation.

We can help you navigate the complex SSA disability claims process and guide you on the best path forward. We only get paid when you win your case.