The Social Security Administration recently added 30 new conditions to its listing of Compassionate Allowances, bringing the total number of conditions eligible for compassionate allowances to over 200. Aplastic Anemia was among the new conditions approved for the program, which is designed to help the most critically disabled to receive Social Security disability benefits in a timelier manner.
Aplastic Anemia - Conditions and Symptoms
Aplastic anemia is a condition in which a person’s bone marrow doesn't produce enough blood cells. As with other types of anemia, it causes those who suffer from it to have low red blood cell counts (anemia). Unlike other types of anemia, it also causes your body to have low counts of:
- White blood cells
- Platelets
- Pancytopenia
The symptoms most commonly associated with aplastic anemia include:
- Pallor
- Palpitations
- Malaise
- Anemia
- Low platelet counts (leukopenia)
- Easily bruising
- Hemorrhaging
- Increased risk of infections
- Low reticulocyte counts
Aplastic anemia can only be confirmed by bone marrow testing. Patients usually undergo a wide range of other blood tests before having their bone marrow tested and being diagnosed with aplastic anemia. Treatments for aplastic anemia include medications and bone marrow transplantation.
Applying for Social Security Disability with Aplastic Anemia
If you have been diagnosed with aplastic anemia, your Social Security disability claim should be flagged for a compassionate allowance and approved within two to three weeks. However, it is still important to make sure that you fill out all forms completely and correctly and include all of the medical documentation the Social Security asks for.
For aplastic anemia claims, you will generally need the following medical documentation:
- Complete clinical history, including all examinations which led to your aplastic anemia diagnosis
- All pertinent laboratory studies, especially bone marrow biopsy reports
- Complete documentation of any stem cell or bone marrow transplantation
While aplastic anemia qualifies you for a compassionate allowance, it is a treatable (and sometimes curable) condition. Your case will be reviewed one year after stem cell or bone marrow transplantation. This review, and others which will follow periodically, is used to determine whether your condition still makes it unreasonable for you to return to work.
Your Aplastic Anemia Disability Case
If you have been diagnosed with aplastic anemia, there is no question of whether you qualify for Social Security disability benefits. You automatically qualify by virtue of having been diagnosed with a condition which qualifies you for a compassionate allowance.
Even those who qualify for a compassionate allowance would be well advised to consult a Social Security lawyer. A Social Security lawyer can help ensure that your paperwork and medical documentation are all in order. Additionally, having a lawyer who is already familiar with your claim can be helpful when your case comes up for review.
