Social Security Disability SSI and Living Donors
Someone under the name of "anonymous" recently left this comment and question. The comment itself was lost but I have reposted it here along with a response.
"I am a living donor, (liver) in 2002. After 7years, i was hospitalized for a diaphragmatic hernia (severe) due to the donation. After some time for healing, (6 months or so) i started having severe pain again in the upper right quad of my stomach. After an MRI cat scan and upper GI, i am told that my cecum and lower intestines (among other things) remain in the upper right quad. Nothing they can do. Adhesions galore. Pain everyday. Many bowel problems(never know when). On top of all this, i am bi-polar, depressed, and suffer migraines. My question - are living donors with continuing problems something that is taken into consideration by SSI since it is a relatively new area in medicine? Do they know enough about what happens in a donation and it's ramifications to make an educated decision? Thanks much."
Anonymous,
I am not aware of any specific guidelines in the Social Security disability guide book, "Disability Evaluation Under Social Security", that address the problems a living donor might have. In fact, I've never seen a case based on the residual disabling conditions associated with being a living donor. Your situation sounds like it has been very debilitating. But, frankly, whether they have "enough" education about donor medical issues does not even play into how the disability examiner is going to make the determination.
So is there a chance that you might qualify for Social Security disability or SSI? Fortunately, Social Security disability (and SSI, of course) is based upon residual functional capacity--what you are able to do in spite of the limitations caused by your mental and/or medical conditions--rather than what your specific disabling condition is.
If Social Security finds that your residual functional capacity rating is so restrictive that you cannot return to your past work and is so restrictive as to rule out any other types of work (for which you might otherwise be thought capable of performing), then you may be approved for disability through a medical vocational allowance.
However, I cannot say anything for sure as I am not even sure that you have stopped working. One fundamental part of the Social Security disability equation is that you have been unable to work for the past twelve months, or that there exists the expectation that you will be unable to work at a substantial work level for twelve months due to your disabling condition or conditions.
If you are working and earning over the substantial gainful activity (SGA) amount (this is a gross monthly earnings amount that, for the social security administration, correlates with a person's ability to work at a substantial and gainful level), your disability claim will be denied at the Social Security office rather than being sent to a disability examiner for an actual medical determination.
However, if you are not working, or are working under SGA, it appears that you would be a good candidate to file for Social Security disability and/or SSI disability (whether your application is for SSD, SSI, or for both programs, as is the case with concurrent claims, would be determined at a social security field office).
I hope this information helps you decide what you should do with regard to filing a disability claim with Social Security.
Return to:
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"I am a living donor, (liver) in 2002. After 7years, i was hospitalized for a diaphragmatic hernia (severe) due to the donation. After some time for healing, (6 months or so) i started having severe pain again in the upper right quad of my stomach. After an MRI cat scan and upper GI, i am told that my cecum and lower intestines (among other things) remain in the upper right quad. Nothing they can do. Adhesions galore. Pain everyday. Many bowel problems(never know when). On top of all this, i am bi-polar, depressed, and suffer migraines. My question - are living donors with continuing problems something that is taken into consideration by SSI since it is a relatively new area in medicine? Do they know enough about what happens in a donation and it's ramifications to make an educated decision? Thanks much."
Anonymous,
I am not aware of any specific guidelines in the Social Security disability guide book, "Disability Evaluation Under Social Security", that address the problems a living donor might have. In fact, I've never seen a case based on the residual disabling conditions associated with being a living donor. Your situation sounds like it has been very debilitating. But, frankly, whether they have "enough" education about donor medical issues does not even play into how the disability examiner is going to make the determination.
So is there a chance that you might qualify for Social Security disability or SSI? Fortunately, Social Security disability (and SSI, of course) is based upon residual functional capacity--what you are able to do in spite of the limitations caused by your mental and/or medical conditions--rather than what your specific disabling condition is.
If Social Security finds that your residual functional capacity rating is so restrictive that you cannot return to your past work and is so restrictive as to rule out any other types of work (for which you might otherwise be thought capable of performing), then you may be approved for disability through a medical vocational allowance.
However, I cannot say anything for sure as I am not even sure that you have stopped working. One fundamental part of the Social Security disability equation is that you have been unable to work for the past twelve months, or that there exists the expectation that you will be unable to work at a substantial work level for twelve months due to your disabling condition or conditions.
If you are working and earning over the substantial gainful activity (SGA) amount (this is a gross monthly earnings amount that, for the social security administration, correlates with a person's ability to work at a substantial and gainful level), your disability claim will be denied at the Social Security office rather than being sent to a disability examiner for an actual medical determination.
However, if you are not working, or are working under SGA, it appears that you would be a good candidate to file for Social Security disability and/or SSI disability (whether your application is for SSD, SSI, or for both programs, as is the case with concurrent claims, would be determined at a social security field office).
I hope this information helps you decide what you should do with regard to filing a disability claim with Social Security.
Return to:
Other Posts
Winning SSI disability, how do I win?
Can you have a job When Applying for Social Security Disability?
What Are You Allowed to Earn on Social Security Disability? (trial work period)
Improving the chances to win disability
Will Social Security Disability Benefits Stop If I Work?
The chances of winning disability with depression
SSDI — Do You Qualify for Disability?
What are the chances of winning disability benefits if I am on dialysis?
Social Security total disability
How to increase the approval chances for social security disability
What does Social Security disability Consider to be Basic Work Activities?
Ways to win disability
I Was Denied for Other Work by Social Security Disability - What Does That Mean?
The chances in a social security disability SSD, or SSI appeal
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