Hepatitis C and Liver Disease and Social Security Disability Benefits

Chicago Social Security Disability Benefits Attorney

What Is Hepatitis C/Liver Disease?

Liver disease is a term that covers a number of diseases of the liver. Chronic liver disease is characterized by fibrosis, cirrhosis, inflammation, or liver cell necrosis due to any cause that lasts longer than six months. There are numerous liver diseases, some of which include: Wilson’s disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, alcoholic liver disease, and hepatitis. If you or someone you knows suffers from liver disease and want to see if you qualify for Social Security disability benefits (whether SSDI or SSI), feel free to contact our attorneys today at 312-999-0999.

Can I Get Social Security Disability Benefits If I Suffer From Hepatitis C/Liver Disease?

Liver disease is absolutely recognized by the Social Security Administration! If hepatitis c or any other liver disease is preventing you from working for at least 12 months, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits (whether SSDI or SSI). When you apply for disability benefits with hepatitis c or any other liver disease, the Social Security Administration will first determine whether your condition is severe enough to meet a listing. If you meet a listing, fantastic you will be found disabled. If you do not meet a listing, the Social Security Administration will then evaluate your residual functional capacity (the most work that you can do despite your medical condition(s)).

Is There A Specific Listing For Hepatitis C/Liver Disease?

The Social Security Administration recognizes hepatitis c and liver disease under Listing of Impairments 5.05: Chronic liver disease, which can be found on the Social Security Administration website. However, because most of the listing is structured using medical terminology, it can be quite difficult to know whether you will meet the chronic liver disease listing. If you or a family member suffers from hepatitis c or any other liver disease and are unable to work and want to know more about whether you might qualify for Social Security disability benefits (either SSDI or SSI), contact Pearson Disability Law, LLC today at 312-999-0999.

If I Do Not Meet The Listing, Is There Another Way To Get Social Security Disability Benefits?

Yes! If you do not meet Listing 5.05 and hepatitis c or any other liver disease is preventing you from working, you may still qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

The Social Security Administration will proceed with your case by evaluating your Residual Functional Capacity. To do this, the Administration will determine the most amount of work that you can do despite your limitations. They do this by dividing “work” into four different categories: heavy, medium, light, and sedentary. It is worth noting that there is sometimes a fifth category that is recognized for very heavy work; however, very heavy work is scarcely used. Whether a claimant wins his or her disability claim is greatly affected by which category he or she is ultimately put into. Being put into a lower category increases the likelihood that a claim is approved for Social Security disability benefits.