This information may help claimants with representation, as well as claimants who are not represented by an attorney or non attorney representative. Understanding how the Social Security Disability system works, of course, can make the difference between winning or not winning the benefits and backpay to which a person is entitled. More information may be found at the social security disability blog. |
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Does Social Security award Disability benefits For Liver Disease? Social Security can award or give disability to any individual who has not been able to perform substantial work activity due to any medical or mental impairment as long as the impairment has prevented the individual from performing substantial work activity for twelve continuous months or is expected to result in the individual’s death. Social Security evaluates liver impairments under the Digestive System impairment listing. Section 5.05 specifically evaluates chronic liver disease (including biliary, portal, and postnecrotic cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, or Wilson’s disease). Individuals who suffer from liver disease must have confirmation of their conditions by a liver biopsy independent of any Social Security disability evaluation with one of the following symptoms: 1) Hepatic cell necrosis or inflammation persisting for at least three months demonstrated by repeated abnormalities of prothrombin time with enzymes that are consistent with liver dysfunction. 2) Ascities that cannot be attributed to any other causes either recurring or persisting at least three months, that is verified by abdominal paracentesis or associated with continual hypoalbuminemia of 3.0 gm per deciliter or less. 3) Serum bilirubin of 2.5mg.per deciliter or greater observed through three months of examinations and testing. As you can see by the above mentioned information from the Social Security “Disability Evaluation Under Social Security” disability evaluation book, Social Security does give disability benefits to individuals with liver disease. However, it still all boils down to the same thing for Social Security and that is "has the individual’s liver disease caused the individual to have so restrictive a residual functional capacity (what they are able to do in spite of their impairment) that they are unable to perform all types of substantial work activity? If Social Security determines that the individual is unable to perform all past substantial work activity and they have determined there is no other work that the individual could perform at substantial work level, they will approve the individual for disability based upon liver disease. Disability Advocates Help with Claims Free Case Evaluation |
