Social Security uses a list of impairments, called a Blue Book, which identifies medical conditions that can qualify an applicant for benefits. The impairment list provides tests that must be taken in order to convince the Social Security Administration that you have a given impairment and that the impairment is severe enough to prevent you from working for more than a year. To prove your claim, an experienced Pennsylvania SSDI lawyer will work with your doctors to verify your condition and to provide an opinion that supports your claim that you have a listed impairment.
Many skin disorder conditions are on the impairment list. Some of these conditions may qualify you by themselves. Other conditions may qualify you because the skin condition also prevents you from performing other bodily functions that are also on the impairment list. Sometimes, the skin disorder can qualify if your residual functional assessment capacity (an evaluation of your condition and your age, education, and past work experience) meets the SSDI standards.
Types of skin impairments covered by SSDI
Some listed skin impairments are:
- You must have skin lesions which are expected to continue for a year or more.
- Chronic mucous membrane or skin infections. The lesions must be fungating or ulcerating for three months or more.
- Dermatitis causes severe itching, inflammation, and redness. This broad skin condition category requires that skin lesions must exist for three months or more.
- Hereditary photosensitivity disorders. One condition, xereoderma pigmentosum, qualifies you automatically. Other disorders require that the lesions are expected to last or limit your functional abilities for a year or more – and must be on a large part of your body
- Hidradenitis Suppurtiva, a severe form of acne. To qualify you must have lesions of three months or more duration that are in both armpits, in the perineum, or are in both right and left areas of the groin.
- Ichthyosis, also known as fish scale disease. The lesions must cover significant body parts and last for three months or more.
Other disabling skin conditions include:
- Skin cancer
- Bullous diseases
- Cellulitis
- Chronic skin diseases
- Dermatomyositis
Applicants also need to show that their income level is below the substantial gainful activity limit. In 2017, that limit is $1,1170 per month.
At Larry Pitt & Associates, our Philadelphia SSDI lawyers understand what medical evidence is needed to qualify you for a skin disorder impairment: a residual capacity assessment that you’re disabled, or a direct showing that your disorder in combination with other problems prevents you from working for a year or more. To understand your rights and learn more about SSDI requirements, please call 888.PITT.LAW or schedule an appointment, or complete our contact form. We represent SSDI applicants in the counties of Philadelphia, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery.
