Kidney Failure and Social Security Disability Benefits

Attorney for Social Security Disability Applications in Illinois

What Is Kidney Failure?

Kidney failure, also known as renal failure, is a serious condition where the kidneys fail to properly filter toxins and different wastes from the blood. The condition can be life-threatening and often requires extensive, time consuming treatment. Two common tests that are done to diagnose the condition are urine and blood tests.

There are two forms of kidney failure: acute and chronic. Acute kidney injury happens much quicker than chronic kidney failure and can be caused by substances harmful to the kidneys or any anything that contributes to low blood volume. Chronic kidney failure happens over time and ranges from a few months to years. There are five basic stages of chronic kidney failure:

• Stage 1, Slightly diminished kidney function with few outward signs and symptoms.
• Stage 2, Mild kidney damage with mild glomerular filtration rate reduction.
• Stage 3, Moderate reduction in glomerular filtration rate.
• Stage 4, Severe reduction in glomerular filtration rate.
• Stage 5, Kidney failure, requiring either kidney transplant or dialysis.

People who suffer from kidney failure experience numerous severe and debilitating symptoms that would disable them from working and would qualify the individual for disability benefits. Some of the symptoms include: nausea, fatigue, edema, weakness, and loss of appetite. Again, the symptoms alone can prevent someone from being able to hold down full-time employment.

Approximately 17% of individuals over the age of 20 suffer from kidney disease. If you or someone you know suffers from kidney problems and want to see if you qualify for Social Security disability benefits (whether SSDI or SSI), contact our law firm today at 312-999-0999.

Can I Get Social Security Disability Benefits If I Suffer From This Disease?

Kidney failure is a condition that is recognized by the Social Security Administration. In fact, on average Social Security tends to approve more kidney failure disability cases than many other conditions. If kidney failure is preventing you from working for at least 12 months, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits (whether SSDI or SSI), even if your application has been denied. When you apply for disability benefits with kidney failure, Social Security will first determine whether your condition is severe enough to meet a listing. If you meet a listing you will be found disabled. If you do not, the Social Security Administration will evaluate the most work that you can do despite your medical condition(s).

Is There A Specific Listing For Kidney Failure?

Social Security recognizes kidney problems under Listing of Impairments 6.02: Impairment of Renal Function, 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 listing for chronic renal disease. If you or a family member suffers from kidney problems 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.

If I Do Not Meet The Listing Is There Another Way?

Yes! If you do not meet Listing 6.02 and kidney failure 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 some called “Residual Functional Capacity”. The Administration will determine the 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.

People suffering from kidney failure typically spend a large amount of time treating their condition. This is something that should get brought up in front of an Administrative Law Judge at a hearing when trying to get disability. Especially if a claimant is on dialysis, it can be quite difficult for that individual to hold down any full-time employment due to the amount of time required to for such treatment.