Qualifying for Disability Benefits with Burns
A burn is an injury to the skin or other organic tissue primarily caused by heat or due to radiation, radioactivity, electricity, friction or contact with chemicals. Burns are a global public health problem, accounting for an estimated 180,000 deaths annually. To learn more about how the Social Security Administration (SSA) defines this disability, visit Section 8.00 of the Blue Book.
Do Burns Qualify for Disability?
Burns are generally judged for disability purposes as skin disorders. The pertinent information regarding qualifying for disability with burns is found in Section 8.00 and 8.08 of the SSA’s Blue Book. In some cases, burns may also be considered based on the parts of the body that they affect, particularly if they cause blindness, loss of ambulation (ability to move from one place to another) or loss of usage of major limbs or joints.
In general, to qualify for Social Security disability benefits with burns, there are two things which you must be able to demonstrate to the Social Security Administration. These are:
- That the skin lesions caused by your burns cause you to be unable to perform meaningful work.
- That the effect on your skin and/or body parts and functions which hinders you from being able to work can be expected to last more than twelve months.
When filing, you will want to make sure to include your doctor’s assessment of your burns. Ideally, this will go beyond a medical description of the burns and will list in detail what activities your burns hinder you from being able to do. It should also include all treatments you have undergone and your body’s response to these treatments, as well as if the effects are serious enough to prevent you from performing meaningful work for at least one year.
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 burns and believe you may qualify, contact us today for a free disability case evaluation.
