Hypothyroidism Disability Benefits

Is Hypothyroidism A Disability?

Generally, there are two types of thyroid gland ailments namely hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism. You can apply for either Social Security Disability such as SSDI or SSD or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if you are suffering from a disability for thyroid issues.

What is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism can be defined as a condition in which the thyroid gland gets disturbed. The gland begins to produce an insufficient amount of thyroid hormone. In extreme cases when an individual is not able to perform any kind of work then it is considered as a disability.

Some people can suffer from hypothyroidism due to an iodine deficiency. Some may experience hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s disease. Some individuals may suffer from secondary hypothyroidism in which the pituitary gland gets damaged badly. This affects the ability of humans to regulate the production of thyroid hormones.

What Are The After-Effects Of Hypothyroidism?

Thyroid hormones are essential for regulating the metabolism within the human body. The after-effects of hypothyroidism can be devastating and can lead to serious disorders. Some of the problems that people suffer due to this condition are as follows:

• Weight gain
• Slow metabolism
• Depression
• Migraine
• Fatigue
• Osteoporosis 

There are different therapies that people may go through. One of the popular therapies that people choose to opt for is thyroid hormone replacement therapy. 

Is Congenital Hypothyroidism A Disability?

Congenital Hypothyroidism is related to intellectual disability. Congenital hypothyroidism impacts 1 in 2000 adults and 1 in 4000 newborn babies. This condition is mostly found in kids whose thyroid gland did not develop and is caused due to autoimmune disease. 

Some of the symptoms of children suffering from congenital hypothyroidism are constipation, jaundice, sleeping for too long, swollen tongue, poor growth, and a large belly with navel out. 

Some kids may suffer from this condition due to an imbalance in the thyroid gland or can be genetic. Therefore, it is regarded as a disability that is mostly found in newborn babies. However, it can appear later in teens also. This condition also impacts the mental conditions of babies.  

Hypothyroidism and Disability Benefits

Hypothyroidism does not have any particular listing in the blue book of Social Security. The medical condition of an individual is analysed and evaluated. 

The agency will also monitor your functional constraints causing complications in your body. In case, someone is having hypothyroidism accompanied by heart disease then it can be categorised under listings of cardiovascular disability.

People who are unable to work beyond the substantial gainful activity and whose thyroid has been lasting for more than 12 months can qualify for the disability benefits. You have to meet the following criteria:

• If you meet the eligibility requirements of the disability listing mentioned by the SSA.
• Showing medical proof that you are not able to engage in any work
• If you satisfy the requirements of the compassionate allowance condition.

Can You Get A Disability For Thyroid Problems?

When you apply for the disability, it may get denied in the first instance. However, you don’t need to get discouraged. You would be surprised to know that only 36% of the applications get approved in the first instance for Social Security Disability. 

After the rejection, you can again file an appeal. The approval rate is higher for appeals as compared to first-time applicants.  For appeals, people include more information. This makes the process of approval easier. 

A time of 60 days is given to file an appeal for the decision made by the SSA. This means that you need to reapply quickly.

How To File An Appeal When Your Application Gets Rejected?

However, the appeals process is quite complex involving different stages. The first step for filing an appeal is a request for reconsideration. In reapplication, your claim is handled by some other evaluator. The evaluator is responsible for reading and making a decision that would be different from the previous one. 

While submitting your application again, you must add all the vital information that you did not include in the first application. Claims can be rejected due to insufficient information or failing to meet all the mentioned standards. It is advised that an individual must be intelligent enough to check the application. This is to make sure that minimum mistakes are made while filing. 

In case, someone’s appeal for disability for thyroid disease also gets rejected then the case will be under the administrative law judge. You must have witnesses that work in your favor. The judge must get convinced that an individual is unable to work due to extreme conditions. The rate of approval for disability hearings is 62%.

After this, there is an appeals council or you can also file an appeal in front of the federal court. The approval rate of the appeals council is 13% and that of a federal court is 40%. 

When to Take Help From An Attorney?

The overall process of filing an appeal is quite difficult. This is because there may be legalities involved that you are unaware of. Therefore, you can take guidance from a legal professional that can prove to be beneficial. You will be helped during the complete process. This will improve your chances of approval for hypothyroidism. 

You must incorporate all the medical conditions including reports from a healthcare professional, treatment plan, and other necessary documents. You must also state which medications you are taking and what is the effect of the medical treatment.

You must also include the work history. This will determine how many work credits you have and how many credits are necessary to apply for disability by social security. In most cases, you must have 40 work credits that are necessary to seek for disability.

For a free case evaluation regarding how to attain the social security disability for hypothyroidism, take help from one of the Disability Lawyers in Illinois of Chermol & Fishman, LLC.