Can I Get SSD Benefits for My Blood Disorder?
Blood performs essential functions in your body, from carrying oxygen to organs and muscles to carrying wastes out of the body. Blood even helps your body fight off infection. So, it should come as no surprise that a blood disorder can be debilitating. Some blood disorders can even be fatal.
Of course, there are many different types of blood disorders, and they vary in severity. Here’s what you need to know about pursuing Social Security disability (SSD) benefits for a blood disorder.
Blood Disorders in the Social Security Blue Book
Most blood disorders are evaluated under Section 7.00 of the Social Security Blue Book, but there are exceptions. Even within the Hematological Disorders section, there are a number of separate listings with different evaluation criteria for different blood disorders. These include:
- Hemolytic anemias, including sickle cell disease and thalassemia
- Disorders of thrombosis and hemostasis, including hemophilia and thrombocytopenia
- Disorders of bone marrow failure, including myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anemia, granulocytopenia and myelofibrosis
- Hematological disorders treated by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
- Repeated complications of hematological disorders
If your medical documentation shows that you meet the listing criteria, you will typically be found to be disabled. But, determining whether or not you qualify based on a Blue Book listing can be a challenge.
There are some overlaps in the categories. For example, aplastic anemia is a disorder of bone marrow failure. However, the condition is sometimes treated with stem cell transplantation or a bone marrow transplant, in which case it is evaluated differently. It can be difficult to know which set of criteria to look at. And, to further complicate things, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will sometimes evaluate blood disorders under listings for other body systems impacted by the disorder.
Fortunately, you don’t have to sort out your SSD claim on your own. The SSD benefits advocates at Disability Help Group have extensive experience guiding people with disabling conditions through the SSD application and appeals processes. Our advocates have a thorough understanding of the processes, how to apply the listing criteria, and what type of evidence the SSA will be looking for.
Our advocates can also explain how you may be able to qualify for SSD benefits without meeting the criteria for a listed condition, and what type of evidence would be required.
To learn more about how we can help, call us today at 800-800-3332 or fill out our contact form here.
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