Qualifying for Disability Benefits with Chronic Skin Diseases

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes “chronic infections of the skin and mucous membranes” as Skin Disorders under Section 8.04 of the Blue Book. To present the best possible disability claim, you will need medical records that document the date of onset, duration, and frequency of flare-ups, as well as the prognosis of your Chronic Skin Infection. You should also have laboratory reports that confirm the medical diagnosis of your condition.

The SSA bases its ruling on the extent of your skin lesions, the frequency of flare-ups, how your symptoms (including pain) limit you, the extent of your treatment, and how your treatment affects you. The SSA considers the following factors when assessing your chronic skin infection diagnosis:

1. Skin Lesions. Extensive skin lesions that affect more than one area of the body or involve “critical body areas” and also result in very serious limitations of your activities. For example, skin lesions that: 1) interfere with joint motion to the extent that use of more than one of your arms and legs is very limited; 2) are located on the palms of both hands and that very seriously limit your ability to perform fine and gross motor movements; 3) are located on the soles of both feet, the perineum, or both inguinal areas that very seriously limit your ability to walk or move about.
2. Flare-Ups. If you have frequent flare-ups of your Chronic Skin Infection, the SSA may base its ruling on how frequent and serious they are, how quickly the symptoms disappear, if at all, and how you are able to function between flare-ups. The SSA will then 1) determine whether you have a severe impairment, 2) assess your functional capacity, and 3) decide if you are unable to perform any gainful activity for a continuous period of at least 12 months. The answers to these questions will determine whether the SSA approves your application for disability benefits.
3. Symptoms.The SSA assesses the impact of the symptoms of your Chronic Skin Infection to see how this condition affects your ability to sustain gainful employment.
4. Treatment. The SSA will assess the type and effectiveness of the treatment you receive, and whether your condition has improved or become resistant to treatment. The SSA will also determine whether treatment itself is causing side effects that limit your ability to function. Treatment records that will be requested include type, method, and frequency of treatment as well as dosage, adverse effects, and expected duration. You are expected to continue treatment for at least three months before presenting your disability claim.

Your chronic skin infection will meet the SSA’s requirements for duration if it persists at the severity level required by the Blue Book listing for at least three months despite continuing treatment as prescribed.