Hidradenitis Suppurativa can cause painful, pus bearing bumps that can hamper your work life. So, can you get disability for Hidradenitis Suppurativa? What is the process to apply and what documents will you need? The article below lists everything you need to know.
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What would you do if you happened to find your body with marks of deep bumps? These bumps are so painful that you cannot even move an inch. Almost 1 to 4% of Americans face the complications of skin disorders like Hidradenitis Suppurativa. The impact of the disease is more commonly seen in African females than males.
The symptoms of pain, pus-filled bumps and infections can be so devastating as to make a person disabled. Thankfully, with the establishment of disability benefits, you may no longer have to cry over the financial loss. Read on to understand how you can claim disability benefits to your advantage through this article below.
What is Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)?
Affecting less than 2,00,000 North Americans, Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a skin disease. Although mistaken for a boil or a pimple, the Hidradenitis Suppurativa looks like a bump under the skin. Many people often assume it to be a normal under skin growth. However, the disease is rare and results from abnormal skin tissue under the skin.
When talking about the cause of the disease, it is not precisely known. Initially, researchers used to believe that it happens due to an infection in sweat glands. However, further studies prove that it is the result of blocked hair follicles that attracts bacteria to cause skin inflammation.
Once it appears, the disease can take a severe form in itself. You may experience mild to severe signs of pain, swelling, and large bumps that drain out pus, particularly under the armpits, inner thighs, buttocks, and groin area.
Is Hidradenitis Suppurativa A Disability?
A disability is a name given to any health disease that negatively influences a person. Notably, it impacts the individual’s ability to move or perform daily chores for the next 12 months or even longer.
As per the definition of disability under Social Security Law, a person becomes disabled when a physical or mental impairment prevents them from doing gainful work.
When speaking of its outcome for people with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, the disease is a threat to people between the age of 18 to 30 years. That means a person with this disease may have to face problems in their career, education and daily activities in the most productive years.
The most common symptoms of the disease such as pain, lumps and blackheads can impact a person’s mobility. The bumps usually occur in sensitive areas of the buttocks, groin, or armpits, causing intense pain during any movement.
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Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) with Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a disability program run by the federal agency “Social Security Administration”. It promises to protect the rights of people with disabilities by providing monthly insurance based on some conditions.
The administration specifies a list of medical conditions in the Blue Book that further qualifies each disease for disability based on set conditions. Hidradenitis Suppurativa is one of the many other medical conditions that allow for disability under subsection 8.06 of Section 8: Skin Disorders.
The program assesses the person’s disability on the following conditions:
- The symptom of Hidradenitis Suppurativa must show that you have painful bumps (skin lesions) under the skin of the armpits, groin area, or near genitals. Moreover, the signs should last for three months, even after proper treatment.
- A disease must restrict an individual from engaging in any activity for 12 months or more.
- An individual’s income should be less than the standard monthly income limit of the Substantial Gainful Activity. Currently, the limit is $1,350 per month, further stating that a person should make less than this number to be eligible for disability. However, a blind person should earn less than $2,260 a month to apply for the Social Security disability program.
Documentation to Prove Disability For Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Getting proper documentation allows medical professionals to support long-term disabilities every month. It ensures that a person claiming disability has solid proof to ask for his rights under the governed law. Documents to apply for disability with Hidradenitis Suppurativa should be:
- Social Security Number.
- Birth Certificate
- Contact details of hospitals and clinics and further information about doctors, nurses, therapists, and any medical personnel responsible for your treatment.
- List of prescriptions with the name and dosages.
- Laboratory results and medical records.
- Record of dates ( seen and tested for disease)
- Copy of recent W-2 or tax return (if you are self-employed).
- Proof of your employment, including the organisation’s name and your position. A summary of the starting and ending date of employment is also required.
Qualifying Under a Medical Listing
Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a chronic inflammation that can make a person have a poor outlook on life. To qualify for disability under a medical listing, you must have to have a diagnosis that shows the location of extensive skin lesions on both the underarms, groin area, and the perineum. Your records must also ensure that these skin lumps will stay for at least three months.
You might also like to read: Can You Get Disability For Menieres Disease
Qualifying for Disability By Equaling a Medical Listing
Suppose your medical condition does not meet the requirements of a medical listing. In that case, you can still hold on to the disability benefits. As per the law under social security, you may qualify for disability by “equaling a medical listing”.
In simple terms, “equaling a medical listing” means that your disease must have chronic symptoms similar to the requirements covered under any other medical impairment. For example, Hidradenitis Suppurativa can cause a person to have bumps in other body areas, contrary to the locations listed in the medical listing.
It can include severe and extensive lesions on palms, soles of feet, or near joints, making it difficult to do any movements. These signs are similar to the criteria listed under Ichthyosis, Section 8.02.
Qualifying for Disability Based on Functional Limitations
If you fail to meet qualifying criteria in both the cases of medical listing and equaling a medical listing, there is a criterion based on functional limitations. Social Security would still provide a shoulder to shed off the financial crisis.
You can qualify for disability benefits even if you don’t have adequate proof but are still unable to function in any job-related activities. For this reason, they will send a consultant to assess your Residual Functional Capacity. It analyses the level of work you can do regardless of your current physical and mental condition.
For instance, if your past work record shows heavy work, the diagnosis of Hidradenitis Suppurativa will prevent you from doing any past work; they will recommend light or sedentary work based on your working capacity.
You might also like to read: Can You Get Disability For Occipital Neuralgia?
Veteran Administration Disability Ratings and Benefits with Hidradenitis Suppurativa
A veteran who sees signs of Hidradenitis Suppurativa after a doctor’s consultation may also receive benefits of disability. The Veteran Administration helps every veteran who may have developed severe symptoms of Hidradenitis Suppurativa during his service.
For this reason, the administration provides a calculated disability rating after evaluating your medical records and the results of the VA claim exam. The Veteran Administration disability rating is the percentage of disability that can make a person incapable of performing any duty.
The authorities set a monthly compensation and your eligibility to use other disability benefits based on this rating.
It is essential to provide a detailed list of your family members, including the number of dependent members like your spouse and children and their age. It will help the management determine your compensation with how many family members are financially reliant on you for your living.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1 What skin diseases qualify for disability?
Chronic Skin infections, Dermatitis, Bullous Disease, Burns, photosensitivity disorders, mucous membrane infections, and ichthyosis are the most common yet dangerous skin diseases. Apart from being qualified for disability programs under Social Security Section 8: Skin Disorders, these skin diseases cause severe symptoms to prevent a person from doing any gainful activity.
#2 Can Hidradenitis Suppurativa make you tired?
Yes, Hidradenitis Suppurativa can make you tired because of the persistent symptoms. These symptoms often result in flare-ups meaning that the symptoms become so intense to cause sharp pain. Therefore, the constant pain and body aches contribute to a problematic lifestyle. A person may feel more depressed, isolated and become insomniac.
#3 Does Hidradenitis Suppurativa get worse with age?
Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a progressive disease, and studies suggest that no cure could prevent the recurrence of this disease. Unfortunately, the skin disorder can disappear and then appear again, lasting for several years.
Moreover, pain and a disturbed lifestyle contribute a lot to increasing the severity of the disease. Also, the condition may get worse with increasing age.
Wrap Up
Disability is often seen as a burden for both the caregiver and the victim. However, having little knowledge of the rights of disability will help a person trust the designated authorities.
Thank you for reading the article and allowing us to move one step closer to our goal.
If you like the article, please don’t forget to pass the knowledge to other people with disabilities. You may also help us by providing your feedback in the comments box.