Living with a Disabilty (Free Online Magazine)

What is Lupus?

Systemic Lupus Eurythematosus, or Lupus Disease is a chronic disorder that primarily involves the immune system, coming under the umbrella of an auto immune disorder. Lupus occurs when the body’s immune system begins to attack its own cells, wrongfully identifying them as foreign objects. Symptoms of Lupus can include swelling of joints such as wrists, elbows and knees, damage to the kidneys and other organs and problems with the skin and blood.

While some people with Lupus can carry on living a normal life, for others the condition is far more severe. People with Lupus can face a lifetime of medical problems. If you are suffering from Lupus to the point that you are no longer able to work or hold down employment, then you may be eligible for SSD or SSI social security payments.

However, having these benefits granted to you by the Social Security office is not always easy, in fact around 70% of all claims are turned down. In order to have your claim granted it can be helpful to understand how such judgments are made.

Getting Social Security Disability Benefits with a Lupus Diagnosis

Contrary to what many people believe, decisions on SSD and SSI benefits are not actually made at your local social security office.  After you have made a claim by completing your application, it will be forwarded to the state office in charge of disability assessments. In most states this is known as the DDS or Disability Determination Services. The case is put into the hands of a disability examiner who will gather information from Doctors, Hospitals and other organization to make a decision about the case.

At this point the examiner can grant or deny the application. If your application is denied you have the right to appeal within sixty days of receiving a letter informing you that your disability benefits were denied. Ultimately, after being denied at 2 levels of DDS review, you will be able to have a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, or ALJ.

To make an assessment that someone is disabled or not, disability examiners and ALJs rely on what is casually referred to as the blue book. This book contains definitions of conditions along with the relevant symptoms which are covered by social security disability payments.  Conditions covered in the blue book are referred to as ‘listings.’

The symptoms for Lupus as listed in the blue book are broad. An individual must be able to prove an impairment to one of many of the bodies systems as effected by Lupus. Those covered include joints, muscles, ocular, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, renal, skin, neurological or mental impairments. They must be severe and be proven to have a detrimental effect on an individuals ability to work. In the case of less severe impairments, two effected areas are required to be demonstrated.

Lupus is a condition that can flare up and then disappear just as quickly. For this reason, when you do have flare ups be sure to see you doctor and have him write notes on the flare up. This may be integral to your disability claim later on when disability examiners or ALJs are reviewing your medical records.

Lupus is an auto-immune disorder.  When someone has lupus, their body is unable to tell the difference between antigens, or foreign cells, or their own bodies cells or tissues. As a result the body’s immune system is constantly attacking itself, which can cause a whole range of medical problems. Lupus is also a disease that both exacerbates and settles down at different times. There may be periods of inactivity when there is no sign of the lupus, then frantic periods during a flare up when the lupus becomes so bad you are unable to work.

Lupus and SSI and SDI Social Security Disability Payments

There are four types of Lupus, most who qualify for SSI and SDI payments will have Lupus Erythymatosus, a condition that one in four thousand people suffer from. There is no specific test for lupus, rather a group of symptoms which must be met. During a period when the lupus is active, one or several of the bodies organs may be affected.

Lupus Flare Ups and Severe Episodes

Severe episodes of Lupus will mean that you are not able to work in most cases. The period of time that you will be effected by the flare up will vary quite substantially. Many people are denied SSI and SDI benefits on the basis that they are unable to prove their Lupus is severe enough to stop them from working simply because the lupus was in remission at the time of application. For this reason it is very important to have detailed doctor’s notes when you do have severe episodes.

Many people even with a lupus diagnosis have had to fight hard for their SSI and SDI disability payments. If this is something you are looking at applying for, you may wish to get an attorney to represent you which will increase you chances of a successful outcome.

Being aware of what the early symptoms of a lupus flare up is important, not only to your health but also because it can help you get the benefits that you are entitled to. Lupus can affect many different parts of the body.  You may think that your lupus has flared up, but you may in fact be suffering from an everyday run of the mill common cold, or just be a little worn down.  Keep a diary of flare up related symptoms and signs so you can begin to understand what is a lupus related flare up.

Many Lupus flare-ups begin with pain in the joints and swelling. You may feel like you are coming down with the flu. Skin rashes, fatigue and a run down or worn out feeling are reported by around 80% of those diagnosed with Lupus. It’s best to get to a doctor as early as possible, as lupus flare-ups can be prevented or lessened in severity with the use of immunosuppressant drugs, and a your treating physicians notes will become part of your disability application should you ever need to file for Social Security Disability benefits.