When you’re living with chronic liver disease, the disease is hard enough. The last thing you want to have to balance is work with your medical schedule. You don’t always feel well, and your health is a priority.
The important thing to know is that you have to prove how serious your disease is before you can obtain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or other benefits. You’ll have to meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA)definition of disabled and earn less than $1,170 each month.
The SSA has to decide that your chronic liver disease is severe enough to limit your ability to work. For example, you should show if the disease limits your:
- Ability to stand or walk
- Response times
- Ability to conform to changes in a work environment
- Ability to hear, speak or see
Chronic liver disease is in the SSA’s medical listing under impairments of the digestive system. The SSA defines chronic liver disease as presenting with:
- Liver cell necrosis
- Inflammation
- Cirrhosis
- Scarring for a period of six months or longer
- Hemorrhaging
There are other conditions patients should meet as well. In some cases, the disease may not result in full disability but still allow for sedentary work. If that’s the case, you may still be able to receive temporary or partial disability benefits, which is something to discuss with your attorney.
When you apply, include all the information you can about this condition and your ability to work. Include letters from your medical provider and others who see you often. This helps your case and aids in showing the severity of your condition.