Can I receive Social Security Disability Benefits for a Skin Disorder?

As a disability lawyer, I get many calls from my Nebraska neighbors asking if their impairment will qualify them for Social Security Disability benefits. If you have a skin disorder and you are unable to work, you may qualify for benefits. Skin disorders that result from hereditary, congenital, or acquired pathological processes are identified in Section 8.00 of the SSA listing of impairments.

The following Skin Disorders are included in this category and may meet the SSA disability guidelines:

• Ichthyosis
• Bullous disease
• Chronic infections of the skin or mucous membranes
• Dermatitis
• Hidradenitis Suppurativa
• Genetic photosensitivity disorders
• Burns

Do not be discouraged if your condition does not meet the SSA listing. If you continue the claims process, your claim will still be evaluated by the SSA. Your limitations and symptoms may affect your ability to work without specifically meeting the listing. The SSA wants to determine if you can perform your past relevant job(s), or if there are other jobs you have the ability to perform. Many of my Nebraska clients with a skin disorder complain that they are unable to work because they have lesions that are painful and require extensive treatment. Furthermore, your condition may cause anxiety and make it difficult for you to interact with others. Your skin disorder can easily affect your activities of daily living and make it difficult to maintain a job.

Skin disorders can be a tricky issue for Social Security Disability if you have any questions about the skin disorders or any other questions about the Social Security Disability processes please call Attorney Patrick B. Cavanaugh at 1-800-342-3352 for a free consultation.

The Social Security Administration will need medical documentation from “acceptable medical sources” to evaluate the presence and severity of your disorder. Information commonly needed for a skin disorder disability claim is; the onset date, duration and prognosis, frequency of flare-ups, location, size and appearance. To confirm a diagnosis the SSA may need laboratory findings such as biopsy and blood tests results. Your symptoms (including pain) will be assessed to determine how they impact your daily life and your ability to work. The effects of any treatment you receive to include medication, therapy and surgery will be assessed. This information is useful in determining the severity of your impairment. Your skin disorder may respond well to treatment, however the side effects can result in limitations. Any adverse effects of the treatment will be assessed.

The Social Security Administration scheduled me for a consultative exam. What is it, and do I have to go?

If you have filed a claim for disability benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may schedule you for a consultative exam. As a disability attorney in Nebraska and Iowa, I get many calls from my clients asking about the consultative exam. The consultative examination is a physical or mental exam performed by a medical source at the SSA’s request and expense. As the SSA reviews your claim, they want as much information as possible about your medical conditions in order to make a decision. The medical evidence may be insufficient to determine if you are disabled. In some cases, claimant’s physicians do not furnish the required medical records. The SSA will send you a letter with information such as date, time and location of the exam. It is very important that the SSA has your correct mailing address so that you get this information as soon as possible.

The exam itself will likely be performed by a medical professional you have never seen before. You can expect the exam to take between 20 and 60 minutes. I have heard people complain that their consultative examinations were very short, or the doctor did not address all of their impairments, or the doctor was rude and did not seem to take them seriously. The consultative doctors are supposed to evaluate your physical or mental abilities; they are not entering into a treatment relationship with you. While the doctors are paid by the SSA for their time, they are supposed to give an unbiased opinion. Therefore, when you go to your appointment, make sure you bring up all of your impairments to the doctor. Answer all of the doctor’s questions truthfully and completely. Remember, too, that the doctor is not just listening to your answers to those questions; he or she is also observing your behavior, speech, and movement and will include those observations in the final report to the SSA.

Many of my clients call me because they are concerned about going to the consultative examination. They say it is difficult to get transportation, or they are just plain worried about what will happen at the exam. Some clients tell me that in their mental state, they don’t know if they can handle that sort of stress. In my experience, it is very important that claimants comply with any and all SSA requests. You should make every effort to get to your exam. Failure to show up for your appointment can have a very negative effect on your claim. Your claim could be denied based on incomplete medical evidence. After all this time waiting on a decision, you don’t want it denied because you didn’t make it to the exam. The whole process can be frustrating and intimidating. Remember, though, that as important as it is to attend the consultative examinations, they are still only one part of all of the evidence the SSA must consider in deciding your claim. Even if you think your consultative examination went badly, it cannot all by itself ruin your chances of being found disabled. The SSA will also consider your treating doctors’ opinions, the results of objective medical tests, and the effects of your impairments on your daily functioning.

As a disability lawyer in Nebraska, my goal is to provide the best advice and representation possible as you navigate the Social Security disability application process. Contact my office if you have questions about the consultative examination or any other aspect of your Social Security disability appeal.

Please call me, Patrick B. Cavanaugh at 1-800-342-3352 with for a free evaluation of your claim.