Does Ulcerative Colitis Qualify You for Disability Benefits?
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease of the large intestine. Many people who have UC can manage their symptoms and live a full life. Unfortunately for others, despite medication and changes in diet, the complications of UC are life-altering and can even make it impossible for them to successfully obtain and hold a job. For instance, a person may be unable to work at a pace acceptable to an employer, because their UC induces diarrhea that requires frequent trips to the restroom, or because they are slowed down by the fatigue and anemia that often accompanies UC. If your UC makes it impossible for you to maintain employment, financial assistance may be available to you through one of the Social Security disability programs.
There are two kinds of disability payments allowed under Social Security law. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are disabled, and you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is based on financial need. The Social Security Administration 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 The first way to qualify is when your impairment meets the criteria in Social Security Administration’s listing of impairments—commonly referred to as the “Blue Book”. In the Blue Book, ulcerative colitis is evaluated under the disability listing for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To qualify under this listing, you need to have a diagnosis of IBD, plus a specific complication such as a small intestine or colon obstruction, perineal disease with a draining abscess or fistula, anemia, or clinically documented tender abdominal mass. If your UC has caused you to lose a significant amount of weight, you may qualify under the SSA's disability listing for weight loss, which requires a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 17.5 or less.
If your condition does not exactly meet the Blue Book standards, there is another way to qualify. You may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits if you can prove that, due to the limitations of your condition, you are unable to perform any job in the national economy, considering your age, education, and past work.
To prove that your impairment prevents you from maintaining full-time employment, you must start with a diagnosis through a doctor’s exam. But a diagnosis alone is not enough to qualify you for benefits. You should tell your doctor you are applying for disability benefits and he or she should then detail 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 to 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. Your medical records and test results are key to winning compensation.
For those who battle UC, the most difficult barrier they will likely face in qualifying for Social Security disability benefits is the “on and off” nature of the disorder. To qualify for disability benefits you must prove that you are unable to work for a full 12-month period. Many with UC may not be able to work for months at a time due to the severe symptoms of the disease, but when the symptoms temporarily subside, they are able to return to work. To demonstrate total disability and qualify for Social Security benefits, you must prove you are fully incapacitated by the disease, and therefore unable to maintain any gainful employment.
If you have other impairments in addition to UC, you should also include these in your application for benefits. The Social Security Administration must take into consideration all your impairments when deciding whether you qualify for disability benefits. For more on this subject read our blog article: Do Multiple Health Problems Improve the Odds of Receiving Benefits?
Due to the tricky nature of UC disability claims and the lengthy and complicated disability claims process, it is worthwhile to have a Social Security disability lawyer with significant experience in UC cases review your claim and offer you the best possible advice for your unique situation. You can call or email the disability attorneys at Cuddigan Law for a free evaluation of your disability claim and we only get paid when you win your case.
