If you have lupus, you should apply for SSDI Benefits.
Some of the benefits of applying include pay to help alleviate the financial burden from loss of full-time work and income.
SSDI benefits can help cover some costs associated with medical bills and daily expenses.
Overall, submitting your application for SSDI benefits for lupus can provide you with some financial relief as you manage lupus.
About Lupus
When the body’s immune system breaks down and begins attacking organs and tissues, the inflammation caused by a disease known as Lupus can diminish the functioning of the brain, lungs, and/or heart.
The disease is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mirror the symptoms triggered by several other types of medical conditions.
As the most evident symptom of Lupus, a facial rash that appears like the wings of a butterfly can lead to helpful intervention.
Otherwise, fever, chronic fatigue, and/or shortness of breath make it difficult to hold down a steady job.
Worst case Lupus scenarios put patients in dire need of emergency medical care services.
How Do You Get Financial Relief for Lupus?
Because Lupus never goes away, it is important for patients to seek financial relief for the loss of income associated with a full-time job.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) runs a safety net program called Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) that helps Lupus patients pay the cost of medical bills, as well as daily living expenses.
To qualify for SSDI benefits, you have to submit an application to the SSA, which reviews your case by referring to the agency’s Blue Book.
The Blue Book lists all eligible medical conditions, as well as the symptoms that force workers to lose their jobs.
Lupus falls under section 14 of the Blue Book that describes immune system disorders suffered by adults.
SSDI benefits pay out only for total disabilities.
This means to be eligible for SSDI benefits, Lupus must have prevented you from working for at least one year before you applied for financial assistance.
The SSA pays out SSDI benefits to eligible applicants that have received a diagnosis for a terminal illness.
However, Lupus patients typically have normal lifespans.
You also have to demonstrate that Lupus prevented you from completing the job tasks that you completed before the onset of symptoms.
Lupus and Medicare Coverage
Lupus is a disease that can attack anytime during someone’s life.
If you received a Lupus diagnosis, and you are at least 65 years old, you can file for Medicare health insurance coverage.
The problem with Medicare for SSDI recipients is the program does not kick in until two years after a worker becomes eligible to receive federal health care coverage.
Although Medicare provides comprehensive health care coverage, the program does not compensate participants for lost income.
SSDI benefits represent the best source of financial support for workers over the age of 65 that suffer from Lupus.
What Happens When Lupus Symptoms Diminish?
Lupus symptoms come and go in both frequency and severity.
American workers that suffer from Lupus can return to work if the symptoms diminish in severity.
The SSA runs two programs that make the back to work transition a bit easier for workers.
Ticket to Work helps workers learn new job skills that they can use to pursue a different career.
Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) provides financial assistance that pays for the cost of searching for a new job.
Ask for a Free Case Evaluation
The SSDI application process requires applicants to submit a detailed list of documents that support a claim for benefits.
A majority of initial applications come back denied by the SSA.
To build the strongest case to receive SSDI benefits for Lupus, you should contact a state licensed Social Security attorney who can conduct a free case evaluation.
Your lawyer also monitors the SSDI application to ensure it receives the attention it deserves from the SSA.
Additional resources
- Tips On Qualifying For Disability Benefits With Lupus
- Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits with Lupus
- How Can An Attorney Help Your Lupus Claim?
- Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits with Lupus
- Permanent Restrictions After Developing Lupus
- Is Lupus a Disability?
- Applying for Disability with Lupus (Updated for 2023)
