Many skin problems are assessed based on how they affect your other physiological functions. Other portions of the Blue Book may be read in such circumstances to decide whether your disease is serious enough to merit disability benefits.
The SSA Blue Book has listings for various skin disorders that may result due to hereditary, congenital, or acquired pathological processes. The kinds of impairments covered by these listings are: Ichthyosis, bullous diseases, chronic infections of the skin or mucous membranes, dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, genetic photosensitivity disorders, and burns.
- I.Ichthyosis extensive skin lesions that persist for at least 3 months despite continuing treatment as prescribed
- II.Bullous disease for example, pemphigus, erythema multiforme bullosum, epidermolysis bullosa, bullous pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis), with extensive skin lesions that lasted for at least 3 months despite continuing the prescribed treatment by your doctor
- III.Chronic infections of the skin or mucous membranes, with extensive fungating or extensive ulcerating skin lesions that persist for at least 3 months despite continuing treatment as prescribed
- IV.Dermatitis (for example, psoriasis, dyshidrosis, atopic dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis). To qualify, you must provide adequate medical proof that your condition lasted with extensive skin lesions that persist for at least 3 months despite continuing treatment as prescribed
- V.Hidradenitis suppurativa, with extensive skin lesions involving both axillae, both inguinal areas or the perineum that persist for at least 3 months despite continuing treatment as prescribed
- VI.Genetic photosensitivity disorders which may include (If you have xereoderma pigmentosum, you are automatically qualified for benefits, and will be considered disabled from the time of your birth.)
- a.Xeroderma pigmentosum. Considering the affected individual got disabled from birth
- b.Other genetic photosensitivity disorders such as:
- 1.Extensive skin lesions that have lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months or
- 2.Inability to function outside of a highly protective environment for a continuous period of at least 12 months
- VII.Burns with extensive skin lesions that have lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months
How to Win Disability Benefits for Skin Disorders?
While assessing these disorders, your disability examiner will generally need information about your skin disorder's onset, duration, frequency of flare-ups, and prognosis; the location, size, and appearance of lesions; and, when applicable, a history of exposure to toxins, allergens, or irritants, familial incidence, seasonal variation, stress factors, and your ability to function outside of a highly protective environment. However, having a mere diagnosis may not mean that you would qualify for ssdi benefits for your skin disorder. In fact, your disability examiner will look for laboratory findings (for example, results of a biopsy obtained independently of Social Security disability evaluation or blood tests) or evidence from other medically acceptable methods consistent with the current state of medical knowledge and clinical practise to confirm the diagnosis and the severity of your disease.
How does the SSA determine the severity of your skin disorder?
The SSA looks at various factors depending on the severity of your disease, your doctor's statements and any prescriptions you followed, that may or may not have responded. In addition, they will look at:
- -severity on the extent of your skin lesions,
- -the frequency of flare-ups of your skin lesions,
- -how your symptoms (including pain) limit you from daily functioning activities,
- -how long your treatment lasted, and
- -how your treatment affected you
What if you do not meet the Disability Listing in the Blue Book for your Skin Disorder?
If you have not received ongoing treatment or have no ongoing relationship with the medical community despite the existence of a severe impairment(s), or if your skin lesions have not persisted for at least 3 months but you are undergoing continuing treatment as prescribed, you may still have an impairment(s) that meets or medically equals a listing in another body system. If you do not have an impairment(s) that fulfils or is medically equivalent to one on the list, the SSA will evaluate your remaining functional capacity, RFC.
You will automatically qualify for benefits if the SSA finds that your skin disorder is indeed severe enough to prevent you from working.
If you need legal help regarding benefits for your skin condition, you may consult our expert disability attorneys here.