The SSA has listed kidney diseases under the section of genitourinary problems in Adults Listings. Claimants with poor kidney function that is disabling are very likely to get approved for disability benefits.
Genitourinary diseases may include chronic kidney disease with chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, kidney transplant, impairment of kidney function, nephrotic syndrome and other complications of kidney diseases.
Diagnosis of a kidney disease is not enough to qualify for SSDI benefits. You would be required to show evidence to the SSA that your disease is severe enough to prevent you from doing any substantial gainful activity, SGA. Also, genitourinary diseases may be due to or linked to other underlying impairments in the body – that may or may not be disabling to affect your ability to perform work under Residual Functional Capacity, RFC.
Symptoms of Renal or Chronic Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is caused by the lack of proper kidney functions. If the kidneys suffer a loss of functioning, then water and waste may build up in your body which may in turn lead to long term fatigue, bone deterioration, unhealthy immune system, nausea, unintentional weight loss and nervous system problems. Some sufferers may require dialysis while others may require a kidney transplant. The underlying causes for failure of kidney function can be diabetes, injury and birth defects.
The SSA will look into the following symptoms and conditions to determine the severity of your kidney or renal impairment:
- I.Reduced glomerular filtration evidenced by one of the following laboratory findings documented on at least two occasions at least 90 days apart during a consecutive 12-month period:
- -Serum creatinine of 4 mg/dL or greater; or
- -Creatinine clearance of 20 ml/min. or less; or
- -Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 ml/min/1.73m2 or less
- II.Anorexia with weight loss determined by body mass index (BMI) of 18.0 or less, calculated on at least two occasions at least 90 days apart during a consecutive 12-month period
- III.Either one or more of the following:
- -Renal osteodystrophy with severe bone pain and imaging studies documenting bone abnormalities, such as osteitis fibrosa, osteomalacia, or pathologic fractures; or
- -Peripheral neuropathy
- -Fluid overload syndrome documented by one of the following:
a.Diastolic hypertension greater than or equal to diastolic blood pressure of 110 mm Hg despite at least 90 consecutive days of prescribed therapy, documented by at least two measurements of diastolic blood pressure at least 90 days apart during a consecutive 12-month period
b.Signs of vascular congestion or anasarca despite at least 90 consecutive days of prescribed therapy, documented on at least two occasions at least 90 days apart during a consecutive 12-month period
Benefits for Claimants with Kidney Transplant
A kidney transplant gives a person 12 months of disability automatically. After the first 12 months, the SSA will analyze the disability criteria based on the above mentioned parameters to determine your disability eligibility and claims.
You can consult a disability attorney in California for more personalized guidance on getting disability benefits for kidney disease.