In Honor Of HS Awareness Month

In honor of HS Awareness Month, the team at Liner Legal has put together a comprehensive guide to applying and qualifying for Social Security benefits with Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) as a potentially disabling disease, meaning that it can be a qualification for disability benefits. For HS to be considered a disability, your symptoms must be severe enough to keep you out of work for 12 months or longer.

The conditions for HS to qualify as a disability are listed in the SSA’s Blue Book, which is the manual of conditions that can lead to long-term or permanent disability. In addition to being unable to work and proving that you qualify medically, you must not be able to switch employment to continue working. The SSA will take into consideration your work history and relevant skills that you have.

According to the SSA’s eligibility criteria, to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits with HS, your medical records must show one or combination of the following:

1. Extensive skin lesions that involve axillae (both your underarms)
2. Inguinal areas (both side of the groin) involved
3. Lesions in the perineum (the area around the genitals and anus)
4. Skin lesions must last a minimum of three months even while undergoing continuous treatments as prescribed by your physician.

In addition to meeting these listed eligibility requirements, your HS diagnosis must also prevent you from maintaining gainful employment either in your field of work.

What is Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)?

1. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a severe skin disease that produces painful bumps under the skin. These pus-filled bumps arise in the hair follicles tend to occur near the sweat glands and in areas where the skin frequently rubs against the skin or clothing. The most common sites are in the armpits and between the thighs and bums.

Causes of HS:

1. This condition develops due to blockage of the ducts leading to the skin pores.
2. When the duct lining cells block the ducts, a plug builds up in those blocked areas and starts expanding the duct, causing oozing, swelling, and irritation.
3. The oil duct and hair follicle eventually explode sideways underneath the skin.
4. The body develops a strong irritant and allergic reaction to this foreign material under the skin.
5. The reaction develops with large, red, hot, painful swellings that eventually break down and drain pus; although this is not an infection, this problem can be hereditary.
6. In addition to the family history, this condition is related to hormones. It commonly starts around puberty. It often gets worse each month with the menstrual cycle.
7. Stress can be a factor, and sweating can trigger a flare.
8. Friction in the areas of involvement is often a problem. The walls of the pores or “follicles” in the sweaty areas of the body seem to “weaken” and easily rupture. Anything that rubs the areas (tight clothing, menstrual pads, etc.) can cause the plugged and swollen ducts to break down more easily.

Stages:

1. Hurley’s Stage I: There are some boils, one or several, but they do not have small tunnels under the skin, and scarring is fairly minor.
2. Hurley’s Stage II: There are recurrent boils with small sinuses under the skin and scarring. There may be one or several of these complexes scattered in different areas or small groups of them.
3. Hurley’s Stage III: There are large areas involved with multiple interconnected tunnels and tracks and draining lesions with a lot of scarring.

Treatment:

There is no cure for this lifelong condition. In severe cases, surgery may be appropriate for the management of symptoms.

Lancing of individual bumps is the most ordinary and least invasive surgical option, but it only provides short-term relief from painful flare-ups. The recurrence of bumps is likely following this treatment.

The journey through the SSDI application process can be complex, especially for those dealing with HS. However, with the right guidance and support, navigating these challenges becomes more manageable. At Liner Legal, we emphasize the importance of hiring an experienced Social Security disability attorney to enhance the likelihood of application approval. If you’re seeking assistance, contact us via www.linerlegal.com or call our office at (216) 282-1773 for a complimentary consultation. Liner Legal assists clients across the country, with physical locations spread across Ohio in cities such as Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, Sandusky, Warren, and Youngstown