An extremely serious condition that you can suffer is a problem with your thyroid. The thyroid is a gland that helps to regulate your metabolism and, in turn, your weight. If your thyroid malfunctions and produces too little of its thyroid hormone, you can end up suffering hypothyroidism, a condition that comes with serious medical consequences.
If you suffer from an advanced thyroid condition, it can lead to symptoms like fatigue, pain and drastic weight gain, all of which can make it difficult for you to work. Read about thyroid disorders that may qualify for disability benefits and discover how a social security lawyer can help with your Social Security application process.
Thyroid Disorders that Qualify
Earning your disability benefits for a thyroid disorder is dependent on whether the disorder is listed in the Social Security Blue Book. The only actual thyroid disorder that is listed in the Blue Book is a thyroid cancer.
If you are applying for disability based on thyroid cancer, you must be able to prove one of three conditions: anaplastic thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid cancer that has metastasized past the lymph nodes or metastatic thyroid cancer that has not responded to iodine radiation. To earn benefits from one of these conditions, you will need to send the results of a biopsy to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
A common thyroid disorder that people apply for benefits for is Grave’s Disease. While Grave’s Disease is not specifically listed in the Blue Book, some of the major symptoms of the disorder may qualify you for benefits, specifically recurrent arrhythmia.
If you suffer recurrent arrhythmia as a result of Grave’s Disease, you will need to show that your condition is irreversible, that you have untreatable fainting episodes or altered mental states and that these altered mental states (syncope) have been tested and medically documented.
Compassionate Allowance
For advanced cancers that don’t respond to treatment like anaplastic thyroid cancer, the SSA offers something called compassionate allowance. With compassionate allowance, your disability payments will be fast tracked due to the severity of your condition. To receive a compassionate allowance for anaplastic thyroid cancer, you will need to provide a full pathology report to the SSA.
Effects to Your Capacity for Work
If you suffer a thyroid condition that is severe enough to prevent you from working but is not listed in the Blue Book, you can apply for benefits using your residual functional capacity (RFC). With this method, you will have your physician fill out an RFC form with the full details of your condition, including how it impacts or eliminates your ability to work.
Once the RFC form has been completed, you will submit it to the SSA for examination. If they deem the form and your condition valid, you will be able to receive disability benefits for your thyroid condition.
Learn More About Disability Benefits
If you would like professional legal advice related to thyroid disorders and disability benefits, you need to discuss your case with an attorney from the Law Offices of Dr. Bill LaTour.
We’ve been helping disabled individuals in the Greater Los Angeles area, the Inland Empire, and Orange County get the disability benefits they need for years. Call Dr. Bill LaTour and his team today at 800-803-5090 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.
