Social Security Disability Benefits for Liver Disease: Eligibility & Requirements

Social Security Disability is a legal decision based on medical, education and vocational evidence. Persons applying for Social Security Disability are referred to as claimants. Disability allowances for liver disease involves both medical evidence of the condition and evidence the liver disease affects a claimant's ability to work.

Hemorrhaging

• A diagnosis of cirrhosis with hemorrhaging esophageal, gastric varices or ascites not attributable to other causes is may allow disability.

Peritonitis

• Bacterial peritonitis with peritoneal fluid with a specific cell count may allow disability.

Hepatorenal Syndrome

• Serum creatinine elevation, oligura and retaining sodium may allow disability.

Hepatopulmonary

• Low oxygenation levels in the blood resulting from low liver function may allow disability.

Vocational Assessment

• Claimant's ability to function with chronic liver diseases will impact the decision to allow or disallow disability. Although the diagnosis may not immediately allow disability according to specific requirements, the affect such conditions have on a claimant's ability to walk, stand, climb, stoop, concentrate and function in a work environment will directly influence the decision.