There are a variety of digestive disorders that can cause significant pain and bowel problems that may prevent some people from working. Not being able to work can lead to serious financial problems for most people. This is when assessing whether you qualify for disability insurance may be able to help you. Disability insurance offers monetary benefits that can cover basic living expenses. Talk to a Philadelphia disability lawyer to learn more about how you can apply. 

Digestive Disorder Disabilities

Not every digestive disorder may qualify for disability benefits, despite coming with some limitations. This is because the Social Security Administration (SSA), the program that offers disability insurance, has certain standards for disabilities that need to be met. According to the SSA, the disability must significantly interfere with your ability to work and hold a steady job. This disability must be expected to be long-term. Brief medical conditions that will resolve in a few months do not usually count. 

One way to find out whether your digestive condition could qualify for disability benefits is to check the SSA Blue Book online. The Blue Book contains long lists of all the medical conditions and types of disabilities that are usually covered by disability insurance. Finding your specific digestive disorder on this list is the first step in the application process. When you start filling out your application, they will ask you for the name of your disorder. 

The main digestive disorders listed in the Blue Book include Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Chronic Liver Disease, Liver Transplant, Short Bowel Syndrome, Gastrointestinal Hemorrhaging, and significant weight loss caused by a digestive disorder. If you do not see your condition on this list, do not panic. You may also qualify if you have ulcers, stomach pain, kidney failure, cirrhosis, Wilson’s Disease, and other disabling digestive conditions. The SSA will look at these on a case-by-case basis. 

Assessing Effects of Treatment

After assessing your specific digestive disorder, the SSA will look at the treatment effects on your digestive disorder. This is done to determine whether you will be able to start working again within the year after receiving treatment. In other words, the SSA wants to see how treatable your condition is. The less treatable your digestive disorder is, the more you are in genuine need of disability benefits.

To assess treatment effects, the SSA will first make sure you have cooperated with all forms of treatment. Noncooperation on your part may prevent you from obtaining benefits because the SSA does not know how serious your condition is. Once you receive treatment, the SSA will look at the severity and duration of your condition. They will look out whether treatment is helping your condition improve. 

Disability Attorney in Pennsylvania

Figuring out whether you qualify for disability benefits is an important first step in seeking financial assistance. Try talking with a Philadelphia individual disability insurance lawyer if you have a crippling digestive disorder and need financial help. Contact Edelstein & Nelson at 1-800-300-0909 for a consultation today.