Does Crohn’s Disease Qualify for Social Security Disability?

 Posted on June 22, 2021 in Social Security disability

Serious health issues can limit your ability to perform daily tasks, and when certain types of medical conditions affect your ability to work, you may be able to receive disability benefits through Social Security. Crohn’s disease is a condition that can drastically affect a person’s overall health and well-being. If you suffer from this disease, and you are concerned about whether you will have the financial resources to provide for your family’s needs, you will need to work with an attorney to determine whether you qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

Social Security Disability for Inflammatory Bowel Disorders

Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition with no known cure, and it can affect any part of the digestive system. It most often affects the small or large intestines, and a person may experience a gradual worsening of symptoms over time, or they may have a sudden onset of pain and discomfort. Symptoms may come in cycles, and a person may be affected temporarily and then experience periods of remission, or the effects of the disease may be persistent and ongoing.

During an “attack” of Crohn’s disease, a person will often experience fevers, abdominal cramps, fatigue, diarrhea, and bloody stool. A loss of appetite over long periods may lead to significant weight loss, and a person may also suffer from ulcers, kidney stones, inflammation of the joints or skin, or anemia. In serious cases, Crohn’s disease may lead to a fistula or a fissure in the anus.

The Social Security Administration’s “Blue Book” includes inflammatory bowel disorders in its listing of impairments, and a person with Crohn’s disease will qualify for disability benefits if they meet certain requirements. A person is disabled if they have experienced an obstruction in the small or large intestine that has required two hospitalizations within six months for either surgery or intestinal decompression. A person will also qualify for disability if, while receiving ongoing treatment, they experience two of the following within six months:

• Anemia
• Low levels of albumin
• A fistula or abscess in the perineum that has caused pain that cannot be fully addressed through prescription narcotics
• A tender abdominal mass that was present in two physical examinations conducted 60 days apart
• Involuntary weight loss of at least 10 percent from their baseline weight
• The need to receive supplemental nutrition through a feeding tube

Contact Our Waukesha County Social Security Disability Lawyer for Crohn’s Disease

If you meet the requirements for disability described above, Pearson Disability Law, LLC can help you apply for and receive benefits. If you do not meet these requirements, you may still be able to receive disability benefits, and Attorney Jonathan Pearson can work with you to show that your condition has lasted for at least one year and that it has caused you to be unable to earn the income you need to support yourself. To get legal help with your disability application or the denial of a disability claim, contact our Wisconsin Social Security disability benefits attorney at 414-240-4801 and set up a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/5.00-Digestive-Adult.htm

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304

https://www.healthline.com/health/crohns-disease#symptoms