Our Washington DC and Baltimore Lupus Attorney for Social Security Disability Benefits

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) — commonly referred to as lupus — is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting five million people worldwide. Filing a successful claim for Social Security disability based on a diagnosis of lupus can be an uphill battle. While the following provides a general explanation about what is required to qualify for disability payments, you will want to discuss your particular situation with a Baltimore lupus disability attorney to better understand your particular situation and eligibility for benefits

How Can Lupus Impact Your Ability to Work?

Lupus is a multisystem disease that results in immune responses that target the body’s own tissues. Lupus can damage any organ, and can involve:

• A person’s joints
• A person’s muscles
• The respiratory system
• The heart
• The digestive system
• A person’s skin
• The brain

There is no doubt that lupus can be debilitating. While severity of lupus symptoms can fluctuate between relative benign discomfort to organ failure or even lead to early death, the only thing that can be counted on for certain is the unpredictability of the disease.

Is Lupus Considered a Qualifying Illness for Social Security Disability Benefits?

People who suffer from severe symptoms of lupus are often unable to function normally, and this includes working, which is where your Washington DC  lupus disability attorney may be able to help. Some of the more common ways that lupus can impact a person’s ability to perform their normal job functions are:

• Mobility is decreased due to joint damage
• The risk of bruising and skin tears becomes unreasonably high in certain work environments
• Feelings of exhaustion that won’t go away cause physical impairments that interfere with the ability to work
• The inability to concentrate interferes with the focus required to perform job duties
• Standing or sitting for long periods is impossible due to kidney or lung damage
• Constant repositioning becomes necessary
• The need for regular dialysis interferes with the ability to keep a work schedule
• Frequent breaks are needed in order to combat breathing issues with a nebulizer

How Can I Determine If I Am Eligible for Disability Benefits Due to Lupus?

The Social Security Administration’s medical guide, called the Blue Book, sets out the criteria for qualifying for medical disability benefits under the Immune System Disorders section. As your Baltimore lupus attorney can explain to you in your free consultation, to be approved for disability benefits with a diagnosis of lupus, you must have at least two body systems or two organs that are affected by the disease and experience other symptoms and signs — such as weight loss, fever, or fatigue — on a regular basis.

If you cannot specifically meet the criteria of the listing for autoimmune disorders with your lupus, you might be able to receive disability benefits if you can show that your lupus symptoms are so severe that you contend with persistent fatigue, fever, weight loss, and other life-impeding effects of the disease.

Contact Our Washington DC or Baltimore Lupus Disability Attorney Today

If your lupus symptoms leave an impact on your life in such a way that you are unable to work, a Baltimore lupus attorney can help you get the Social Security benefits you need. If you’d like to speak with an experienced disability attorney, call The Law Office of Emmett B. Irwin at 443-839-0818 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation today. We work with clients throughout Maryland and surrounding states, including Washington DC.