Does SSA Qualify Hashimoto’s Disease as a Disability?
Social Security has a comprehensive list of medical conditions (known as the Blue Book) that they consider to be severe enough to qualify for disability benefits. Endocrine disorders, such as Hashimoto’s disease, are included in Section 9.0 of the Blue Book listings. However, rather than evaluating the effects of thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s disease under endocrine disorders, Social Security takes into account potential impacts on other body systems in order to assess the severity of each individual case.
This is because Hashimoto’s disease can have a wide range of symptoms and complications depending on the particular parts of your body affected by the disorder. For instance, those with Hashimoto’s may suffer from joint pain, muscle weakness, fatigue, hearing loss, heart palpitations and more. As such, Social Security will evaluate individual cases based on how these symptoms affect your ability to function day-to-day.
How Do I Get Approved for Benefits with Hashimoto’s Disease?
Hashimoto’s disease can cause a range of debilitating conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, irregular heartbeat, other heart conditions and strokes due to changes in the sympathetic nervous system, and digestive disorders. Additionally, it can cause mental health issues such as cognitive limitations, depression and anxiety disorder. Social Security evaluates how the damage done by Hashimoto’s impacts an individual’s ability to work in day-to-day life by assessing their residual functional capacity (RFC).
While those with Hashimoto’s may receive a sedentary RFC, they still may be able to work if their age, educations level and job skills are taken into consideration. Social Security also utilizes medical-vocational grid rules for older workers which may provide them an advantage when seeking disability benefits. It is essential for individuals with Hashimoto’s to make sure all of their impairments – even those unrelated to Hashimoto’s – are documented in their medical records so that Social Security can accurately assess their eligibility for disability benefits.
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