Qualifying for Disability Benefits with Hemophilia
Hemophilia is usually an inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood doesn’t clot properly. This can lead to spontaneous bleeding as well as bleeding following injuries or surgery. Blood contains many proteins called clotting factors that can help to stop bleeding. People with hemophilia have low levels of either factor VIII (8) or factor IX (9). The severity of hemophilia that a person has is determined by the amount of factor in the blood. The lower the amount of the factor, the more likely it is that bleeding will occur which can lead to serious health problems. To learn more about how the Social Security Administration (SSA) defines this disability, visit Section 7.08 of the Blue Book.
Does Hemophilia Qualify for Disability?
Yes, people with hemophilia do qualify, but they need to meet the requirements of the SSA’s guidelines for this disability. Here they are below:
- Your condition must be verified by lab testing. Medical evidence of the therapy and treatments you are receiving alone is not enough to qualify for disability.
AND
- Your hemophilia must involve spontaneous hemorrhaging serious enough to require a transfusion at least three times during the previous five months.
If your hemophilia does not meet the guidelines laid out in the Blue Book for hemophilia, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Rather, it means that you need to be able to prove that your condition, whether hemophilia alone or combined with other conditions you may have, makes it unreasonable to expect you to perform any kind of work for which you would be qualified or could be trained.
How Do I Apply for Disability Benefits?
To apply for disability benefits, it’s important to understand the disability application process. If you’ve been diagnosed with hemophilia and believe you may qualify, contact us today for a free disability case evaluation.
