Qualifying for Disability Benefits with Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of disorders caused by blood cells that are poorly formed or don’t work properly. Myelodysplastic syndromes result from something amiss in the spongy material inside your bones where blood cells are made (bone marrow). To learn more about how the Social Security Administration (SSA) defines this disability, visit Section 7.10 of the Blue Book.
Do Myelodysplastic Syndromes Qualify for Disability?
Yes, people with myelodysplastic syndromes do qualify, but they need to meet the requirements of the SSA’s guidelines for this disability. Referenced in Section 7.10 of the Blue Book – Disorders of Bone Marrow Failure – the following conditions must be applicable in your case to medically qualify:
- Bone marrow failure complications that require a minimum of three hospitalizations occurring within a 12-month period and at least 30 days apart. Each incident must last for at least 48 hours (may include time spent in the emergency ward before hospitalization)
OR - Myelodysplastic syndromes requiring lifelong red blood cell transfusions at least once every six weeks to keep you alive If you receive a bone marrow stem cell transplant, the SSA will consider you disabled for at least 12 consecutive months from the date the transplant took place. Your application for disability benefits must be accompanied by the following information from your doctor:
- The methods of diagnosis: must be peripheral blood smears accompanied by bone marrow aspiration OR bone marrow biopsy
- The treatments you have received (medications, bone marrow stem cell transplants, red blood cell transfusions)
- Records of hospitalization due to MDS complications
Your doctor will also complete a residual functional capacity (RFC) form that documents the ways that MDS has limited your ability to function and work.
If the SSA determines that your MDS symptoms do not qualify you for a listing, you may still be awarded disability benefits under a medical vocational allowance system.
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 myelodysplastic syndromes and believe you may qualify, contact us today for a free disability case evaluation.
