I recently became diagnosed with lupus. Am I eligible to recieve social security disability income?

Question: I was recently diagnosed with lupus and need to know what I should do to file for disability.  Are the steps different than applying for regular disability benefits?

Response: Lupus is a very debilitating autoimmune condition that basically attacks the entire body.  Symptoms include chronic fatigue and pain which can be so debilitating that the sufferer is barely able to work.   In cases such as these, sufferers may be able to claim disability benefits.  To claim any disability benefits from Social Security, no matter the medical condition, the claimant must meet the legal definition of "disability" which is that the claimant "is unable to do any substantial work because of his or her medical condition."  Also, the medical condition must be expected to last at least a year or until the time of a resulting death.  If you are under 65, you can also claim Supplemental Security Income.  In order to collect benefits, the claimant must have worked 5 of the last 10 years. 

You must provide the following to make your initial claim:

• Social security number
• Birth Certificate
• Proof of Age
• Names and Address of any institution where you have received treatments, including hospitals and clinics
• Medications and Dosages
• Medical Records
• Lab Tests and Results
• Employment history including the company's name and address, supervisor's phone number, the nature of your work, and W-2 forms
• Dates of Prior Marriages
• Bank Accounts and Automatic Deposit Records

To collect SSI, you must present the above plus the following:

• Value of home
• Mortgage or lease information
• Landlord's name
• Payroll slips
• Insurance policies
• Car registration
• Burial funds
• Loans, stocks, bonds, and investments
• Proof of citizenship or Non-citizen status.

If a claim is denied initially, the claimant has the option of filing for a lengthy appeals process.  Because of the complexity of receiving social security benefits, you might consider speaking with an attorney who is experienced with the issues of lupus disability.

Answered by Sharon Cullars

Additional Resources:

• Social Security Disability and Lupus: What You Should Know
• Lupus and Social Security Disability Benefits - Audio

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