Some people only suffer a mild skin irritation that they can easily treat. However, not everyone with a skin problem is so fortunate. In fact, some people suffer from such intense skin disorders that they cannot work at their current job. Skin problems can affect people of any age, and given how a skin disorder may impact your life, you might wonder if Social Security Disability will cover your present disorder.
According to the Social Security website, people who suffer disabling skin disorders may apply for disability benefits just like other disabling ailments. And like other health conditions, Social Security will look at how your skin disorder impairs you while determining whether to grant you disability.
Determining disability
One way Social Security will examine the validity of your claim is to evaluate how skin lesions, like wounds or injuries, impact your life. You might have skin problems that make it hard to move your hands, arms or legs. Skin wounds on your feet or legs can impair walking or moving around. A skin problem on your hands may impact your ability to perform complex or even simple hand movements.
Skin disorders may affect your life in other ways. A skin wound may create so much pain that it becomes difficult to perform work or everyday tasks. Some skin problems are not constant, but they can flare up. You might feel fine for a period of time before experiencing a severe flare up in your condition. Social Security will consider how frequently you experience flare ups and how they affect your ability to work.
Treatment
Social Security also takes into account your course of treatment. The therapy, medicine or surgery you are presently undergoing to handle your disorder may actually create some disabling side effects. Your medication might make it hard to drive, walk, stand, or impair you in some other way. Your surgeries may result in prolonged periods of recovery that do not allow you to work. These disabling side effects may help convince Social Security to approve your disability.