Short Bowel Syndrome Sufferers: Social Security Disability May Be an Option for You

Short bowel syndrome includes a variety of medical conditions. However, there are certain things that short bowel syndrome sufferers have in common that significantly impact their lives and their abilities to work. People with short bowel syndrome have part of their small intestine missing, damaged, or surgically removed. This leads to problems absorbing nutrients and it may lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, cramping, fatigue, and weakness that make it difficult or impossible to work.

Social Security Disability May Help You

There are several different ways in which a person with short bowel syndrome may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. If you have worked enough and paid enough into the Social Security system to qualify for disability benefits, you may be eligible for these benefits if one of the following is true:

• You meet the criteria established in Section 5.07 of the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book Listing of Impairments. According to Section 5.07, you will be eligible for Social Security disability benefits if you have short bowel syndrome because of a surgical resection of more than one half of your small intestine and you are dependent on daily parenteral nutrition delivered by a central venous catheter.
• Your condition is equal in severity to another listing in the Listing of Impairments. If the symptoms of your condition are as bad as the symptoms of another condition in the Listing of Impairments then you will be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.
• You are unable to work. More specifically, you lack the residual functional capacity to engage in substantial gainful activity. In other words, your short bowel syndrome has left you disabled and unable to work enough to earn the minimum amount established as substantial gainful activity by the Social Security Administration.

Without the help of a Social Security disability lawyer, it can be difficult to know which of these avenues of eligibility is most likely to result in Social Security disability benefits for you.

Contact a Social Security Disability Lawyer Today If You Suffer From Short Bowel Syndrome

Our board certified lawyers will go over all of your options with you and help you submit a strong application for Social Security disability benefits. To learn more about how we can help you get the fair benefits you deserve, we encourage you to download a free copy of our book, Social Security Disability: What You Need to Know, and to contact us directly to set up a meeting with us.

by Paul B. Burkhalter
Managing Partner of Morgan & Weisbrod, Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.

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