Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) disability benefits are allowed when people with IBD meet certain criteria.
Theinflammatory bowel diseasesare incurable, chronic illnesses that include Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis.
Many people who live with IBD find a treatment that helps stop the inflammation and symptoms.
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However, for some, the disease can be severe and difficult to treat.
The complications can limit life activities and make it difficult to hold a job and work.
In those cases, it may make sense to apply for disability benefits.
This is called the Disability Evaluation Under Social Security or as its sometimes known, the Blue Book.
The Blue Book is very detailed and updated regularly.
If a disease or condition is listed, it means that the standards concerning disability have been laid out.
IBD is a disease that is listed in the Blue Book.
This may help you to understand it better and make a strong case when applying for disability.
Is it hard to get disability for IBD?
Blue Book Criteria
IBD is listed in the digestive system section of the Blue Book.
They are also used to help pay for medical treatments.
There is no one set monthly monetary amount that is allocated for disability.
Every case will be different and will be based on that persons earnings before applying for disability.
Disability payments would continue until the recipient can go back to work and earn wages.
The steps for applying for disability include the following:
What Benefits Can I Get for IBD?
The bang out of benefits you qualify for will depend on your specific situation.
These benefits provide a monthly payment to cover basic expenses, such as food, clothing, and housing.
This may include time off for surgery, hospital stays, mental health, and medical visits.
Immediate family members acting as primary caregivers may also qualify.
Applying can also be done in person, at aSocial Security office, with an appointment.
The paperwork can be mailed in or it can be brought in person to a Social Security office.
It is common for a claim to be denied and to make an appeal.
An appeal needs to be made in writing within 60 days of the decision.
Some gastroenterologists who specialize in IBD consider surgery a treatment for ulcerative colitis, rather than a cure.
A j-pouch is called the “surgical procedure of choice for the management of refractory UC.
However, a note is made for those who are not able to maintain adequate nutrition.
The criteria define this as having abody mass index(BMI) under 17.50.
The BMI needs to be measured on two separate occasions in a six-month period at least 60 days apart.
BMI is a dated, flawed measure.
It does not take into account factors such asbody composition, ethnicity, sex, race, and age.
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