Is Liver Disease a Disability?

Knowing how to get disability for liver disease requires you to prove to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that you meet the medical guidelines established by the Blue Book. Liver disease triggers several easy to notice symptoms, such as nausea, chronic fatigue, and intense abdominal. All three symptoms can be strong enough to prevent you from working your current job. To address the financial issues that result from contracting liver disease, the SSA runs the Social Security disability program to provide financial relief for qualified applicants.

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Is Liver Disease a Disability?

Yes, liver disease is a disability if you met the standards published in the SSA medical guide called the Blue Book. Section 5.05 of the SSA medical guide lists the severe symptoms of the medical condition that might qualify you to receive financial assistance. According to the Blue Book, liver disease causes cells located in the liver to die, scar, or inflame for a minimum of six months. Because the functioning of the liver impacts the health of other organs, liver disease might lead to the development of certain types of cancer, as well as hypertension and the slowing of bile flow.

Any applicant for Social Security disability must meet the severity of symptom standards established in the Blue Book. Blood hemorrhaging from the liver is a common severe symptom of liver disease, as is fluid in the lungs or abdomen that cannot be linked to other healthcare issues. An infection in the lining of the abdomen and kidney failure represent two more severe symptoms that might qualify you for disability benefits.

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Types of Liver Disease Conditions That Are a Disability

Several different types of liver disease symptoms can make you eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Hepatitis, which is characterized by an inflammation of the liver, prevents your liver from properly functioning. A rapid increase in the fat content of your liver can produce fatty liver disease, which is often attributed to alcohol abuse. Autoimmune conditions like primary biliary cirrhosis involve your immune system attacking and killing the healthy cells that can eventually lead to liver failure.

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How to Get Disability Benefits with Liver Disease

Receiving disability benefits for liver disease requires you to submit a claim that persuades the SSA to approve your request for financial assistance. This means you have to submit evidence that demonstrates you suffer from the medical condition. Medical records such as the result of diagnostic tests and a detailed prognosis of you making a full recovery represent two important factors that determine your eligibility for financial assistance.

After you gather and organize medical evidence, you complete an accurate application that you forward to the SSA. Submitting incomplete and/or inaccurate information can get your disability claim denied by the SSA. You initiate the claim filing process by using the online form or by calling the SSA at 800-772-1213. Finalizing the submission of your claim requires you to visit the SSA office located nearest to your home. The SSA office locator lists every local office for each of the 50 states. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SSA might have closed certain local offices. Call the toll-free number to learn how to finalize the submission of your claim if the closest SSA local offices remain closed.

Get help filing a disability claim by scheduling a free case evaluation with a Social Security disability attorney.

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Additional Resources

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