Qualifying for Social Security Disability with Liver Disease in Chicago, IL
If you have a liver disease that stops you from working, Social Security Disability benefits could provide financial assistance to make your life easier.
But you can’t just tell Social Security you’ve got liver disease so you can’t work. It gets complicated.
Liver disease is a broad umbrella term which covers over 100 distinct types of liver impairments, including cirrhosis and hepatitis. Also called hepatic disease, it occurs when your liver isn’t functioning well.
Although your liver is unique in its ability to regenerate itself after it has been damaged, if the damage is severe enough and occurs over a long enough time, the organ develops scar tissue, and its functioning decreases.
It usually takes about 75 percent of the liver tissue to become damaged before liver disease is diagnosed. Eventually damage to the organ can lead to chronic liver failure.
Each year more than 200,000 Americans develop liver disease.
When you’re looking into disability benefits for liver disease, if you’ve been diagnosed with it your doctor will already have performed tests that can go into your claim.
To help you complete your application for disability benefits, talk to the Chicago disability attorneys at Nash Disability Law.
We’ve helped thousands of people get benefits. Nash is one of the leading disability law firms in Illinois and nationally, having secured among the highest amounts of benefits for our clients.
WE’VE HELPED MORE PEOPLE IN THE CHICAGO AREA WIN DISABILITY BENEFITS THAN ANY OTHER LAW FIRM.
Keep reading to learn about the two major ways to get disability benefits for liver disease.
First Way to Qualify for Social Security Disability with Liver Disease
The first of two ways to get Social Security Disability benefits is to meet a Social Security impairment listing.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a set of procedures in place to identify disabilities that are medically eligible for benefits.
These procedures are published in a handbook known as the “Blue Book.” It includes a long list of disabling conditions called “listings.”
To be eligible for Social Security Disability and meet the requirements of the Blue Book listing for chronic liver disease, you must be diagnosed with end-stage liver disease or chronic liver disease that’s lasted at least six months.
In addition, your health must be complicated by a variety of related conditions, including the excess buildup of fluid in the peritoneal or pleural cavity or gastrointestinal or esophageal hemorrhaging.
It can be difficult to meet Social Security’s highly specific impairment listing. If you wonder whether you qualify for Social Security Disability for liver disease, explain your case to the experienced disability lawyers at Nash Disability.
We’ve helped many people in the Chicago area with liver conditions who needed economic help. We’ll listen and help you plan for your disability claim at no cost.
Second Way to Qualify for Social Security Disability with Liver Disease
Very few people who apply for Social Security Disability benefits meet the strict requirements of the Blue Book listings, but there is a second way to qualify.
You must prove you’re unable to perform any work due to your liver disease, given your age, education, and past work experience.
Social Security will look to see if your condition has functionally limited you from working.
The agency will next assess your “Residual Functional Capacity,” or RFC, to determine if there’s any type of work you’re able to perform despite the limitations caused by your liver disease symptoms and the side effects of your medications or treatments.
For example, if you suffer bouts of nausea and vomiting and need to take periodic breaks from work, you may not be able to sustain work on a consistent and reliable basis.
Bear in mind that you must provide evidence to prove that your liver disease prevents you from performing any substantial work.
Any limitations or symptoms caused by your liver disease should be recorded in your medical records.
You should also know that your claim may be denied if you drink alcohol. Alcohol is toxic to the liver, and this may lead the SSA to believe that your consumption of wine, beer or liquor is impeding improvement in your liver condition.
The Nash Disability Law team can help you navigate this process. When liver disease has limited you, we want to see you getting financial relief for a better life.
