If you have IBS, it may significantly impact your quality of life. If you find yourself in this situation, you may wonder if you qualify for disability benefits. The short answer is yes – if your IBS is severe enough to prevent you from being able to work and enjoy many other normal daily activities, you may qualify for disability benefits.
Let’s take a closer look at IBS, whether or not it’s considered a disability, and, if so, what type of benefits might be available.
What is IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS for short, is a gastrointestinal disorder that causes difficulties in the digestive system. It often causes pain or discomfort in the stomach and changes in typical bowel movement patterns. This disorder affects millions of people. In fact, it is one of the conditions most commonly diagnosed by gastroenterologists – so if you struggle with IBS, you should know that you’re not alone.
Those who have IBS may experience a variety of symptoms, including, but not limited to:
- Painful diarrhea or constipation
- Mucous in stools
- Painful cramps
- Excess gas
- Incomplete bowel movements
If you struggle with any of these symptoms, you likely already know that they can be very uncomfortable. In some cases, they may be so uncomfortable and challenging that they prevent you from being able to work and function as you otherwise would. In those cases, pursuing disability benefits through the Social Security Administration is often a wise choice.
How Does the Social Security Administration Define Disability?
Many people know that the Social Security Administration offers disability benefits, yet they wonder—what qualifies as a disability? That’s an understandable question.
To determine if a condition qualifies as a disability, the Social Security Administration will often consult its Listing of Impairments, also known as the Blue Book. This guide contains several conditions and their accompanying symptoms. Unfortunately, IBS is not listed in the Blue Book – but this does not mean that the Social Security Administration will refuse to consider it as a disability. It simply means that additional and thorough medical proof may be necessary to establish the existence of the condition and its disabling nature.
If the Social Security Administration has determined that your IBS constitutes a disability, they will also want to verify that it has rendered you disabled for one continuous calendar year or more. If so, they’ll then determine the type of benefit for which you are eligible.
What Types of Benefits Are Available?
The two types of disability benefits the Social Security Administration provides include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSDI benefits are typically paid to “insured” individuals who have worked a qualifying job for a sufficient length of time and paid a portion of their salary to the Social Security Administration. SSI benefits, by contrast, are typically for individuals with income and resources below a certain threshold established by the Social Security Administration.
The type of benefit you qualify for will depend upon your particular circumstances – and in some cases, an application for benefits is unfortunately denied. If that is the case, though, you shouldn’t lose hope. You have the right to appeal a denial, and other types of disability benefits may be available depending on your situation.
Are There Other Options Besides Social Security?
Many people who struggle with IBS and other disabling conditions worry that if the Social Security Administration denies their application for benefits, they are simply out of luck. The good news is that this isn’t necessarily true.
In some cases, those who struggle with IBS have long-term disability policies through private insurers. These may be purchased by the individual personally or provided by an employer. If you have such a policy, IBS may be a qualifying condition for which the policy provides benefits.
Generally, the amount and duration of benefits will depend upon the particular terms of the policy itself. To ensure that you fully understand your rights under the law, consulting with a knowledgeable and experienced attorney will be essential. At Liner Legal, we’re here for you.
Liner Legal – Your Disability Benefits Attorneys
At Liner Legal, we are passionate about helping our clients pursue the disability benefits they need and deserve. Regardless of whether you struggle with IBS or another condition, we know that living with a disability isn’t easy. That’s why we’re here to help. We know and understand every aspect of disability law and would be honored to put that knowledge to work on your behalf. We’ll fight for you each step of the way and make sure to fully assert your rights under the law. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call today. We look forward to talking with you soon.
