Social Security Claims For Ulcerative Colitis: How To Win At A Disability Hearing

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the innermost layer of the large intestine. Census data shows that around 593,000 Americans suffer from the disease, and while some people suffer only mild symptoms, ulcerative colitis can make life very difficult. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), people with ulcerative colitis may become eligible for social security payments under the category of Digestive System Impairments, but you may need to attend a disability hearing before the Administration will approve your claims. Increase your chances of success at a disability hearing with the following advice about how to answer the Administration's questions.

Understand the Administration's evaluation criteria work

The SSA will only approve claims for social security where ulcerative colitis has had a significant impact on your quality of life. Furthermore, the Administration will look for evidence that the symptoms are severe enough to stop you working. While the SSA considers each case on its merits, a disability hearing will look for evidence of certain symptoms.

For example, people with ulcerative colitis often experience perineal disease, which can lead to an anal abscess or fistula. As such, you should make sure your evidence at a disability hearing contains any relevant information about symptoms like this that you have suffered with.

Consider evaluation criteria that fall under other headings

In some cases, the symptoms of ulcerative colitis may cause other health issues that fall under separate headings within the SSA's listings. For example, people with ulcerative colitis often experience regular bouts of diarrhea. Over time, this problem can cause serious weight loss. The SSA has a separate listing for weight loss, and the hearing may approve your claim under this listing if your body mass index has fallen below 17.5. Make sure you carefully consider the different listings that could apply to your symptoms.

Discuss gaps in your medical history honestly

A disability hearing will often pay attention to gaps in your medical history, where it may appear that you did not seek or receive medical treatment. These gaps may suggest to the hearing that your condition is not serious enough to warrant a claim, so you need to carefully answer all questions asked.

Ulcerative colitis patients often experience periods where they do not exhibit many symptoms. Conversely, a flare-up is equally common, and certain symptoms may become problematic during these times. You should explain to the hearing how the cycle of your symptoms works, highlighting how the condition typically affects you.

Don't lie. If you didn't have medical treatment because you could not afford medical insurance, explain this to the hearing. Similarly, if your symptoms improved for a prolonged period, you should make this clear. Honesty will always bring credibility to your claim.

Describe any limitations your symptoms cause as specifically as possible

Disability hearings will want to understand as much detail about your symptoms as possible. What's more, the limitations your symptoms cause are critical to the outcome of your claim. As such, you should go into as much detail as possible.

For example, the diarrhea that many ulcerative colitis patients experience can become debilitating. You can demonstrate this by explaining how frequently this occurs (every 30 minutes during a flare-up), how much time you have to get to a bathroom (symptoms can come on within 30 seconds), and any after effects (you have tenderness and soreness around your bottom that means you cannot comfortably sit down for long periods.)

While you may find some of these details embarrassing, the hearing is more likely to approve a claim when you present clear, detailed examples of the effects the disease has on your life.

Don't exaggerate

It's easy to allow the stress of a disability hearing to pressure you into exaggerating your answers, but you should try to answer questions without doing this. Other evidence (like a doctor's report) may call your answers into question, which could jeopardize the outcome. For example, if the hearing asks you to rate the level of pain you experience during a flare-up on a scale of one to ten, carefully consider your response. If you go straight to a ten, the hearing may immediately question your honesty, and a doctor's report may show that he or she only prescribes a low dosage of painkilling medication.

Ulcerative colitis affects thousands of Americans, and the effects of the disease may support a social security claim. Talk to an attorney with experience in this area, like Todd East Attorney at Law, for more advice and information.