Liver-disease and Social Security Benefits

What You Need to Know

DEFINITION AND TYPES

The term "liver disease" applies to many diseases and disorders that cause the liver to function improperly or stop functioning altogether. Abnormal test results of the liver often suggests liver disease. Below is a list of common liver diseases:

AMEBIC LIVER ABSCESS:

Caused by Entamoeba histolytica, the same organism that causes amebiasis, an intestinal infection.

HEPATITIS:

The term "hepatitis" refers to syndromes or diseases causing liver inflammation, including inflammation due to viruses and chronic alcohol abuse. Viruses causing hepatitis include autoimmune Hepatitis, Hepatitis A, B, C, E, and the delta factor. Each virus causes a distinct syndrome, though they share some symptoms and consequences. See the Hepatitis link on this website.

LIVER CIRRHOSIS:

Cirrhosis is the result of chronic liver disease that causes scarring of the liver (fibrosis - nodular regeneration) and liver dysfunction. Common causes of chronic liver disease in the US include hepatitis C infection and long-term alcohol abuse. (See Alcoholic liver disease.) Hepatitis C is now the most common reason for liver transplantation in the US. Other causes of cirrhosis include hepatitis B, medications, autoimmune inflammation of the liver, disorders of the drainage system of the liver (the biliary system), and metabolic disorders of iron and copper (hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease).

PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS:

Primary biliary cirrhosis is an inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the bile ducts of the liver resulting in narrowing and obstruction of the flow of bile. This obstruction damages liver cells.

LIVER DISEASE DUE TO ALCOHOL:

Cirrhosis or hepatitis - alcoholic; Laennec's cirrhosis, all these involve an acute or chronic inflammation of the liver induced by alcohol abuse.

This information was obtained from MediLine Plus: Liver Disease athttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000205.htm.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

If your liver condition prevents you from working, you may qualify for Social Security benefits. With liver diseases, the Social Security Administration requires a detailed list of symptoms and specific test results before granting benefits. Our disability lawyers have a specialized team that handles liver cases and they are well versed with the requirements of a successful social security case.

SOCIAL SECURITY PROCESS

Social Security evaluates each person's claim for benefits using the following five steps:

ARE YOU WORKING?

If you are working and your earnings average more than $1,000 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled. If your back injury prevents you from working, we go to Step 2.

IS YOUR CONDITION "SEVERE"?

Your back injury interferes with basic work-related activities, you claim will be considered. If it does not, we will find that you are not disabled. If your condition does interfere with basic work-related activities, we go to Step 3.

IS YOUR CONDITION FOUND IN THE LIST OF DISABLING CONDITIONS?

For each of the major body systems, we maintain a list of medical conditions that are so severe they automatically mean that you are disabled. Some back conditions that appear on this list are stenosis, degenerative disc disease, lumbar back pain with positive straight leg raising tests, and nerve root compression. If your back condition is not on the list, we have to decide if it is of equal severity to a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, we will find that you are disabled. If it is not, we then go to Step 4.

CAN YOU DO THE WORK YOU DID PREVIOUSLY?

If your condition is severe but not at the same or equal level of severity as a medical condition on the list, then we must determine if the back pain interferes with your ability to do the work you did previously. If it does not, your claim will be denied. If it does, we proceed to Step 5.

CAN YOU DO ANY OTHER TYPE OF WORK?

If you cannot do the work you did in the past, we see if you are able to adjust to other work. We consider your medical conditions and your age, education, past work experience and any transferable skills you may have. If you cannot adjust to other work, your claim will be approved. If you can adjust to other work, your claim will be denied.