Will Having Hepatitis C Qualify Me for Disability?
Simply having a hepatitis C diagnosis won’t qualify you for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. However, some people do qualify for SSDI due to hepatitis C.
Whether or not you are eligible for SSDI for hep C will depend on two factors:
Whether you have accrued sufficient work credits to qualify for SSDI benefits and meet all other general qualifications, and
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes inflammation that can damage the liver. The virus starts with an acute phase. During that phase, a person may or may not experience symptoms. When they do, those symptoms often include:
Fatigue
Jaundice
Nausea
Muscle pain
Fever
Even when the disease enters the chronic phase, many people experience no symptoms until the virus causes liver damage. Then, symptoms may be similar to those listed above, but may include others, such as:
Loss of appetite
Dark urine
Bruising or bleeding easily
Swelling in the legs
Fluid build-up in the abdomen
Weight loss
Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech
Itchy skin
When Does Someone With Hepatitis C Qualify for SSDI?
Hepatitis C can be treated with antiviral medications. These medications can cure hepatitis C. However, if the liver has already been damaged, there may be continuing symptoms and limitations. If you are among the small percentage of hepatitis C patients who can’t be cured with antivirals or you have already sustained significant liver damage, you may be eligible for SSDI.
There are two ways to establish that you are disabled by the damage caused by hepatitis C:
Meet the Social Security Blue Book criteria for chronic liver disease, which may be met in several different ways, or
Qualify based on a more encompassing assessment that considers your age, past work experience, education and other factors to determine whether or not you are able to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA)
Next Steps for SSDI Applicants
The SSDI application process can be confusing, and most applicants are denied at first. Whether you’re just considering applying for SSDI benefits for hepatitis C or have been denied benefits and want to appeal, Disability Help Group is here for you. Our experienced disability benefits advocates have learned the ins and outs of the SSDI application and appeals processes so you don’t have to. Call us today at 800-800-3332 or fill out our contact form here to learn more.
If you’re a retired teacher, firefighter, police officer, or someone with a public pension, you may have heard about the new Social Security Fairness Act. While the law promises to increase benefits for millions, it comes with a catch: you might have to wait up to a year or more to see those changes. Here’s what you need to know about the law, the delays, and what you can do to stay on top of things.
What Is the Social Security Fairness Act?
The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden and is a big win for many retirees. The law does away with two federal policies that previously prevented employees with public pensions from receiving their full Social Security benefits. It also increases the benefits for surviving spouses and family members of these workers.
The best part? The benefits hike is retroactive to December 2023. That means if you were getting partial benefits before, you’ll now be getting full payments, going back a year.
Long Wait Times Ahead
The Social Security Administration has made it clear that due to a lack of extra funding or staff, it could take more than a year to adjust benefits and make all retroactive payments. The SSA’s current budget doesn’t have room to handle the increased workload, and ongoing staffing shortages (plus a hiring freeze since November 2024) are only making things harder.
As a result, you can expect delays and longer wait times if you’re trying to get in touch with the SSA. The agency has warned that this will affect everyone, even those not impacted by the new law, as they try to manage the added workload.
Does The Social Security Fairness Act Affect My Payments?
While the SSA works through the backlog, they have emphasized that the processing of these changes is complicated. Since much of the work has to be done manually, it’s going to take time. The Biden White House estimates that the average increase per recipient will be around $360 a month.
What Can You Do Now?
While it’s frustrating to wait, staying patient is key. The SSA has asked for understanding as they work through this massive update. Keep an eye on any communications from the SSA, and make sure your contact info is current so you don’t miss out on any updates.
If you’re applying for SSD, need help with an appeal after a denial, or think your benefits were wrongfully terminated, Disability Help Group is here to support you. Reach out to us at 800-800-3332 or fill out our contact form here to learn more. We’ve got your back!
Like most medical conditions, blindness or loss of vision may or may not qualify a person for Social Security disability (SSD). The Social Security Blue Book contains multiple listings relating to visual impairment, and people who are otherwise eligible and meet one of those listings will generally qualify for SSD benefits. Those who don’t meet the listings may still qualify, depending on a broader analysis.
Blue Book Listings for Blindness and Visual Impairment
You are statutorily blind, meaning that the vision in your better eye is 20/200 or worse after correction, or
The field of vision in your better eye is contracted to 20 degrees or less
An SSD applicant who is statutorily blind has a higher earning threshold than other applicants. While most people will be disqualified from receiving SSD if they are able to earn at least $1,620/month, the cap for a statutorily blind applicant is $2,700/month.
The type of testing required to establish visual impairment depends on the type of impairment. For example, visual acuity is measured using the Snellen methodology or similar testing. Testing is conducted with corrective lenses. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will make adaptations to adjust to testing considered sufficiently comparable. For instance, if your vision has been measured at a distance of 10 feet, the SSA will convert that measurement to the 20 foot standard.
SSD for Visual Impairment Outside the Blue Book Listings
Meeting or equalling a Blue Book listing can be the simplest way to qualify for SSD benefits, but it isn’t the only one. If you are visually impaired and your visual impairment compromises your ability to earn a living, you may still be eligible for SSD. If you don’t meet a listing, the SSA will consider your ability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) based on your residual functional capacity and a grid system that takes into account your age, educational level, past work experience and transferable skills.
Get Help with Your SSD Application for Blindness
Most SSD applications are initially denied, but you can improve your chances of approval by ensuring that your application is complete, accurate, and accompanied by the evidence the SSA will be looking for. At Disability Help Group, we have extensive experience with SSD applications and appeals and can help ensure that you submit the strongest claim possible. To learn more, call 800-800-3332 right now, or fill out our contact form here.
When your Social Security disability (SSD) benefits were approved, you probably breathed a big sigh of relief. Many people who are approved for SSD continue to receive those benefits until they reach full retirement age. Then, they are transitioned to Social Security retirement benefits. The amount of benefits stays the same, so many people don’t even notice that change. But in some situations, SSD benefits are terminated or suspended before the recipient reaches retirement age.
Why Can SSD Benefits Be Terminated?
The biggest reason SSD benefits terminate–other than the transition to retirement benefits–is that the Social Security Administration (SSA) no longer considers you disabled. This typically happens in one of two ways:
Your Medical Condition Improves
You don’t have to be permanently disabled to receive SSD benefits. In fact, people often receive SSD benefits for conditions that are unlikely to be permanent. For example, a person might get SSD benefits because they are disabled by cancer, but go through treatment and improve enough to return to work. Similarly, disability due to an injury might last longer than the minimum required 12 months, but not be permanent. And, medical solutions are always improving, so a condition that wasn’t treatable when you were approved for SSD may become more manageable, or even curable.
Part of the SSA’s definition of “disabled” is that you are unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). If your earnings from work exceed a certain threshold while you’re on SSD, it will trigger a trial work period. If you exceed that amount in nine out of 60 months, the SSA will start to transition you away from SSD benefits.
Other Reasons You Could Lose SSD Benefits
There are also reasons you could lose SSD benefits for as long as certain circumstances exist. For example, if you move to a country where the SSA can’t pay benefits, you could lose benefits for as long as you are in that country. If you’re in jail or prison for more than 30 days, your SSD benefits will be suspended. However, you can request reinstatement when you are released.
A Disability Benefits Advocate Can Help
This is just one of the many aspects of SSD that can be complicated and confusing. Whether you are just applying for SSD, have been denied and want to appeal, or believe your benefits have been wrongfully terminated, Disability Help Group can be your best resource. To learn more, call us at 800-800-3332 or fill out our contact form here.
Social Security’s union employees secure a telework deal through 2029
Written by: Scott Layden, DHG Senior Disability Advocate
Outgoing Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley negotiated an updated contract with Social Security employees who are members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).
What Does This Mean For Union Employees
The updated contract secures the current telework policy (work from home) for nearly 42,000 of the 60,000 employees of the Social Security Administration through 2029. Depending on their job, Social Security workers have to report to the office between 2 and 5 days a week.
Incoming President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had vowed to end telework entirely for government employees, which could have resulted in thousands of Social Security employees leaving their jobs. “This deal will secure not just telework for SSA employees, but will secure staffing levels through prevention of higher attrition, which in turn will secure the ability of the Agency to serve the public,” AFGE chapter president Rich Couture told Bloomberg.
Written by: Scott Layden, DHG Senior Disability Advocate
