How People With Crohn’s Disease Can Get Social Security Disability Benefits

Crohn’s disease is a chronic form of inflammatory bowel disease that causes breaks in the lining of the small and large intestines. It can also impact the rest of the digestive system—from the mouth to the anus. Unfortunately, those suffering from this unpleasant condition often experience significant discomfort due to the symptoms and side effects of the disease, and even aggressive treatments like surgery provide only temporary relief.

The condition is chronic and may affect your ability to work for many years to come. People with Crohn’s disease should strongly consider seeking Social Security disability benefits in order to reduce the financial strain caused by the condition.

Obtaining Social Security Disability Benefits Due to Crohn’s Disease

As anyone who has had this condition knows, Crohn’s disease can result in significant impairment of an individual’s ability to work. Examples of the symptoms that may result from Crohn’s disease include the following:

• Abdominal pain stemming from deep in the intestinal lining
• Frequent emptying of the intestines
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Lost appetite
• Fever

These symptoms can create a great deal of financial stress for patients and their families. Fortunately, the Social Security Administration recognizes Crohn’s disease as a condition that impacts the ability to work, evaluating it under inflammatory bowel disease in its list of covered impairments.

If you are suffering with Crohn’s disease, you may be able to obtain Social Security disability benefits to offset some of these financial difficulties. To qualify for benefits, you must do the following:

1. Obtain a diagnosis indicating that you suffer from irritable bowel disease.
2. Verify that you have a listed complication. Examples include untreatable anemia, an abscess, a bowel obstruction, a fistula, unintentional weight loss of more than 10 percent of your body weight, or a tender abdominal mass along with cramping and pain.
3. Show that your symptoms make it impossible to perform your previous job if you do not meet the criteria of the inflammatory bowel disease listing. You must also demonstrate that there are no other types of jobs that you could learn to do and be capable of doing given your job skills and education level.

Patients suffering from Crohn’s disease can sometimes experience complications so severe that complete bowel obstructions or perforations in the digestive system can occur. Fortunately, victims may have options.

Social Security Disability May Help

One way to pay your bills may be to apply for Social Security disability benefits. If you qualify for Social Security disability, you may be able to obtain benefit payments starting six months after your disability began. The amount that you are able to recover is going to depend on how much you contributed to the Social Security system during your working years.

Please read our FREE report, Social Security Disability: What You Need to Know, to learn more about whether you qualify for Social Security disability benefits and about how you can obtain those benefits. You can also contact us at any time via this website to have your specific questions answered.

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

CONNECT WITH ME