How to qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits with PFIC
Written by: Eric at the Disability Benefits Center
How to Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits With PFIC
If you have been diagnosed with PFIC and you can’t work any longer because of the symptoms of your illness but you have worked in the past you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. The money from disability benefits can be used to pay for your living expenses when you are unable to work. If you have worked in the past but you expect that you won’t be able to work for at least a year because of your medical condition you can submit an application for Social Security disability benefits.
How to Medically Qualify for Disability Benefits with PFIC
Typically, in order to have a claim for Social Security disability benefits approved by the SSA you would need to be diagnosed with one of the conditions in the SSA’s Blue Book and meet all of the listing requirements for that condition. It’s very important to submit medical records with your claim to prove that you meet the requirements. However, there is no Blue Book listing for PFIC. The best way to qualify for disability benefits with PFIC is to show that you meet the Blue Book listing requirements for liver disease and liver failure. In order to do that you’d have to submit medical records showing that you have one of these conditions:
- Hepatitis, cirrhosis, or another chronic liver condition
- Have had a liver transplant
- Have liver disease that causes severe weight loss
If you have PFIC but don’t meet any of those conditions you can also qualify for disability benefits through a medical vocational allowance exception.
How to Qualify Through a Medical Vocational Allowance
Sometimes people have illnesses that make them too sick to work but they don’t meet any of the Blue Book listing requirements. If that’s the case for you then you can ask for a medical vocational allowance exception. To get this exception your doctor needs to fill out a form called a Residual Functional Capacity evaluation. The blank form is on the SSA’s website. In this form your doctor needs to describe in detail what your symptoms are and how the prevent you from working.
Submit the RFC form with your application and your medical records. The SSA will look at the RFC and your other materials to determine if there is any kind of work that you can do. If they can’t find any type of work that you can do with the limitations that your doctor has listed in the RFC then you will be eligible for disability benefits.
Applying For Social Security Disability Benefits
You can apply for Social Security disability benefits on the SSA’s website and submit all your medical records and documentation through the secure site. Or, if you need help applying for disability, you can make an appointment at your local SSA office and they will help you submit an application.
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