Liver Disease / Cirrhosis and Qualifying for Disability Benefits

Approximately 100 million people in the United States suffer from some form of liver disease. Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a category of diseases that includes medical conditions such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, liver failure, and liver cancer. CLD can be inherited or caused by viruses, environmental toxins, alcohol and drug abuse, or autoimmune disorders. If left untreated, chronic liver disease can be debilitating and become life threatening. If you are suffering from the effects of Liver Disease you may qualify for disability benefits.

Symptoms and signs of liver disease vary from person to person and commonly include:

•    Jaundice
•    Abdominal pain and swelling
•    Extreme fatigue
•    Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
•    Enlargement of liver or spleen
•    Swelling in ankles and legs
•    Mental disorientation
•    Dark urine, blood in stool
•    Bruising easily
•    Itchy skin

These symptoms can cause you to miss work and jeopardize your ability to maintain employment.

Some diseases which may qualify under this listing include:

•    Cirrhosis
•    Hepatitis B or C
•    Autoimmune hepatitis
•    Liver failure
•    Alcoholic liver disease
•    Liver cancer
•    Hepatoma (most common type of primary liver cancer)

One way to qualify for SSDI would be to match the requirements of this listing; unfortunately, the requirements are quite complex.

In addition to having a diagnosis of end stage liver disease or chronic liver disease lasting at least six months, you must have medical documentation of at least one of the following:

•    Blood loss from a rupture in the digestive system requiring a blood transfusion;
•    Fluid buildup in the abdomen;
•    Fluid buildup around the lungs
•    Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis – an infection characterized by a buildup of white blood cells around the abdomen;
•    Hepatorenal syndrome – a kidney disorder that occurs in people with liver damage;
•    Hepatic encephalopathy – temporary accumulation of toxins in the brain resulting from liver damage;
•    End stage liver disease with CLD scores of 20 or greater. This is a calculation Social Security performs based on the levels of bilirubin and creatinine—two chemical compounds that are the natural byproducts of liver functioning—in your system and multiplies it by numbers that reflect the normal amount of these compounds in the body.

The criteria of this listing are both technical and complicated.

If you have doubts about whether you’ve had one of the above complications, ask your doctor to look at the listing with you. In order to prove that your condition is severe enough to prevent you from working you will need to provide documented medical evidence of the symptoms mentioned above. Your complete medical records should include:

•    A diagnosis of liver disease by your doctor;
•    A full liver panel to show how the liver is working;
•    Imaging tests such as x-rays, MRIs, sonograph, and CAT scans;
•    Results of liver biopsy;
•    Records of blood transfusions;
•    Surgery reports and hospitalization records;
•    Medications you take;
•    Treatments that have been attempted and your response;
•    Notes from your physician and medical providers detailing your symptoms and how they impact your daily life as well as your response to treatment.