You are suffering. Your medical condition may have affected your range of motion or fluid filled blisters may have developed on the palms of your hands, the soles of your feet, or your perineum/groin area and even the simplest of tasks may be difficult. Social Security disability may be an option for you if you are unable to work, but before you apply there are some things that you should know.
Be Prepared Before You Apply for Social Security Disability Benefits
Before you submit an application, it is important to know that:
1. There Are Multiple Conditions That Are Considered Bullous Diseases
According to the Merck Manual bullous diseases include, but are not limited to:
- Bullous pemphigoid
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
- Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita
- Linear Immunoglobulin A disease
- Mucous membrane pemphigoid
- Pemphigus foliaceus
- Pemphigus vulgaris
These conditions all have one thing in common: they result in raised and fluid-filled blisters that are greater than or equal to 10 mm in diameter. These blisters are known as bullae.
2. Bullous Diseases Are Included in the Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments
If you have a bullous disease and you meet the requirements in Section 8.03 in the Listing of Impairments, you will qualify for Social Security disability benefits. In order to qualify pursuant to this listing, you need a diagnosis and you must have extensive skin lesions that persist for at least three months despite your compliance with a prescribed treatment plan.
3. You Need Certain Evidence to Submit With Your Application
It is important to provide the Social Security Administration with information about your condition. This includes, but may not be limited to:
- A description of your lesions. This should include their sizes, locations, and information about how long you’ve had them.
- Impact of your lesions. The Social Security Administration will want to know how your lesions impact your activities of daily living and your ability to work.
- Medical test findings that confirm your diagnosis. This could include, for example, biopsy results.
The idea is to provide honest and accurate information about your medical condition to the Social Security Administration for its consideration.
4. Your Treatment Is Important
Unless you have a good reason for foregoing medical treatment, you cannot receive Social Security disability benefits until you demonstrate that you have complied with your doctor’s treatment plan. Treatments for bullous diseases may include different medications such as anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, or medications to suppress the immune system.
5. A Social Security Disability Lawyer Can Help You
Applying for Social Security disability benefits can be tricky. If any part of your application is incomplete or unclear, your application can be denied. An experienced Social Security disability lawyer can help prevent this from happening to you. Please contact us today via this website or by phone to schedule an initial consultation with one of our board certified lawyers so that we can talk about getting you the benefits you deserve.
by Paul B. Burkhalter Managing Partner of Morgan Weisbrod , Board Certified in Social Security Disability Law.