Can SSD benefits be obtained for inflammatory bowel disease?

There are certain illnesses that a North Carolina resident might possess that will preclude him or her from being able to work. These medical conditions do not necessarily need to be issues that will be terminal, as they can be of sufficient severity that they prevent an individual from working. When there is this type of illness, it is worthwhile to consider filing for Social Security disability benefits for illness. One of these illnesses, and one that can wreak havoc on a person’s life, is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Those who are diagnosed with IBD should consider filing for SSD benefits.

IBD can have many effects on an individual, and its definition for SSD purposes includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Disorders that fall under IBD can have similar medical findings and treatments. There are multiple symptoms of IBD. They include bleeding from the rectum, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, pain in the abdomen, feeling fatigued, having a fever, experiencing nausea and vomiting, as well as developing a mass in the abdomen that is usually inflamed loops of bowel, perineal disease, and abdominal tenderness. When laboratory tests are done, there might be weight loss, edema, and other problems, too.

People with IBD can also be confronted with issues in other areas of the body including the eyes, kidneys, bladder, and skin, and it can lead to non-destructive inflammatory arthritis. There might not be a correlation with the IBD severity. For those who apply for SSD benefits and do not meet the criteria based on the IBD, the combination of IBD and the affect it has on other areas of the body can result in a claim’s approval. If a person has surgery for IBD, it is generally not viewed as sufficient to stop a them from working provided they can maintain proper nutrition. If it is not possible to continue proper nutrition, then the claim can be evaluated based on the weight loss, meaning that the applicant’s claim for SSD benefits might be approved.

People with IBD or any other stomach-related disorder might meet the criteria to be approved to receive SSD benefits. These medical problems can make it exceedingly difficult if not impossible to leave the house, let alone work. A legal professional can be of assistance when seeking Social Security disability benefits for illness, which can be critical to ensure that one obtains the financial security needed while focusing on recovering and/or maintaining one’s health.

Source: Social Security Administration, “5.00 Digestive System — Adult — E. How do we evaluate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?,” accessed on Nov. 5, 2017