Lupus may be considered a disability for those with severe impairment of multiple bodily systems or moderate impairment of two or more systems, as well as those who have been unable to work for at least a year. However, the government does not automatically classify lupus as a disability due to the variation in the degree of the disease. People with lupus may struggle to hold traditional jobs due to flare-ups, but may be able to work from home or as independent contractors. Proof of disability is needed for financial assistance, and appeals may be necessary if claims are initially denied.
Lupus can be disabling, although some people have long periods of remission where they are poorly affected by this autoimmune disease. The question of whether this condition is a disability, from the perspective of trying to collect disability or supplemental security income (SSI) in the United States, is slightly more complex. Lupus is not listed as a standard disability, but given a few factors, it may be considered one. People applying for any form of disability benefits should understand the factors that make lupus a disability and what conditions make a claim more likely to be approved.
What might make lupus a disability eligible for benefits can be boiled down to two separate definitions. It can be considered disabling if there is severe impairment of joints, muscles, eyes, respiratory system, heart system, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, blood function, skin, and cognitive or psychiatric function. Alternatively, Disability Benefits or SSI review committees may consider lupus a disability if two or more of these systems are moderately impaired or if you have other conditions such as chronic fever and weight loss.
Another possible way to judge lupus a disability is to consider the individual’s current health and other factors such as age. A child with moderate to severe lupus is likely to receive SSI benefits if the parents qualify based on income. Anyone who has been ill for up to a year or who doctors judge to be ill for at least twelve months is also eligible, especially if they have been unable to perform the jobs they previously held.
The main reason the government doesn’t just call lupus a disability is because of the variation in the degree of the disease. Some people are very sick with this disease and others have milder symptoms. Also, lupus can be prone to flare-ups, where people are sometimes very ill, but feel fine and capable at other times.
For lupus sufferers, these flares make it difficult to hold traditional jobs, and some people with the disease work for supportive employers, taking advantage of things like the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), if flares occur. However, employees are expected to report to work most of the time, and if lupus gets seriously worse, work may not be possible. Some people find ways to stay employed by starting home businesses or working as independent contractors, but these don’t have the benefits of traditional work, mainly health insurance, and health insurance is hard to come by with a lupus diagnosis.
What is really needed for the government to consider lupus a disability is proof that it is disabling. Doctors need to document this accurately for patients trying to get financial assistance or even access things like shared-cost Medicaid. People will normally need to demonstrate ways in which the condition makes things like work impossible, and they may need to be tested by state doctors, as well as fill out paperwork and provide medical records.
There continues to be a history of automatic denial of disability claims, and this may be more common with an illness that is not always classified as a disability. If people get rejected, they should persist and file an appeal. Appeals often lead to approval of claims, although it is certainly recognized that this form of self-advocacy can be very difficult to enforce if people are severely affected by a disability. There are disability lawyers and advocates who can help expedite this process, even though their services can be expensive.
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