Youngstown
Crohn’s Disease Disability Lawyer

On This Page

1. How Our Youngstown Disability Attorneys Approach These Claims
2. Statement of Eligibility to Pursue SSD Benefits if You Are Unable to Work
3. Our Youngstown Attorneys Explain Disability Options for People With Crohn’s Disease
4. Our Youngstown Disability Team Guides Applicants Through the  Stages of a Claim
5. Discuss Your Youngstown, Ohio, Disability Application With Our Team

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

January 01, 2025

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Crohn’s disease is a condition that affects people with varying degrees of severity. Some people have such serious symptoms or other related conditions that they cannot effectively work and earn a living. If this happens to you, our Youngstown Crohn’s disease disability lawyers can discuss your options for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) with you. 

A Youngstown Social Security disability lawyer from Berger and Green can help you file your claim or fight a disability denial based on your Crohn’s disease diagnosis and symptoms. We have more than 40 years of experience fighting for our client’s best interests. Contact us today for a free consultation. 

How Our Youngstown Disability Attorneys Approach These Claims

Berger and Green know how important getting approved for disability is for you and your family. We aggressively fight to help you get the benefits you need after a denial, working to ensure the Social Security Administration (SSA) has all the necessary proof and documentation to support your diagnosis.

We help our clients apply for benefits for the first time or work to appeal a denial when necessary. Dealing with the SSA can be time-consuming and frustrating, and we’d like to help by handling your claims on your behalf. Crohn’s is mentally and physically challenging to manage; you do not need to stress yourself out even more by taking on these tasks alone. 

Our lawyers believe in open communication with our clients, and we’ll keep you informed about the progress of your case. We know how important disability benefits are to our clients, so our team will not leave you in the dark.

Statement of Eligibility to Pursue SSD Benefits if You Are Unable to Work

When you hire one of our attorneys from Berger and Green, we will help you understand the application process and what you must show to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. People with a condition that is severe enough to prevent them from working for 12 months or more may be eligible for benefits. However, proving this and seeking benefits can be challenging for many.

Crohn’s disease falls under 5.06: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in the Social Security Administration’s impairment listings, known as the Blue Book. This entry outlines when the agency believes Crohn’s disease causes a disability. 

Generally, those with a Crohn’s diagnosis and symptoms could qualify when their illness does not respond to medical treatment, or they continue to experience symptoms that are disabling. When this occurs, they may be unable to: 

• Work as frequently as they could before
• Work as long as they could before
• Manage all the tasks they could before

Can I Earn Money While Receiving Disability Benefits for Crohn’s?

If you can still work to some capacity while living with Crohn’s disease, you must follow income requirements from the SSA. Substantial gainful activity (SGA) refers to the income and work people can do. Earning money while disabled can impact your monthly disability benefits.

According to the SSA, the substantial gainful activity limit for 2025 is $1,620 a month for most people. If your earned income is below this because of your Crohn’s disease symptoms, you might receive approval for benefits. If you earn more than these limits, you may not get any benefits.

Our Youngstown Attorneys Explain Disability Options for People With Crohn’s Disease

When we discuss Social Security Disability in Ohio, we are generally talking about two programs: 

• Social Security Disability Insurance: SSDI provides monthly income to those living with a condition that causes a disability and prevents them from working and earning income. Qualifying jobs give workers credits each year, and these credits are important when determining eligibility for SSDI.
• Supplemental Security Income: SSI is an income-based program. It has the same medical criteria as SSDI but requires claimants to meet limits based on their household income and resources. Some people receive both SSDI and SSI.

Our Social Security Disability attorneys can help you understand your options and assess whether you might qualify for one or both of these programs based on the qualifying criteria. We also help clients file claims and fight denials. 

Our Youngstown Disability Team Guides Applicants Through the  Stages of a Claim

At Berger and Green, our lawyers know what the Disability Determination Services representatives are looking for to approve your claim. We prepare our clients’ claims with the information that the Social Security Administration needs to evaluate their qualifications for benefits. 

Most people do not get approved through the initial application process. Instead, they need to appeal. We help navigate this process, too. There are four phases: 

• Reconsideration
• Administrative Law Judge hearing
• Appeals Council review 
• Federal Court review

Reconsideration simply asks that a Disability Determination Services representative review the file again. Many cases need to continue into the other stages, but we must wait until they deny benefits again before we can schedule a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. 

The hearing before an Administrative Law Judge is your best chance to get benefits for Crohn’s disease. These are often done over the phone or via video conference. The Administrative Law Judge will review the documentation available in the case and consider whether it meets the SSA evidentiary requirements for Crohn’s disease or otherwise demonstrates that your condition prevents you from working. 

When Will I Receive Disability Benefits for Crohn’s Disease?

If we help you get approved for SSDI or SSI through this process, you may receive backpay. This is money to cover the period between when you should have received approval and when you received your first payment. This is the money our contingency fees come from. 

For SSDI, it is usually paid in a lump sum. For SSI, you may receive separate payments to avoid causing problems with qualifying for benefits in the future. You will also begin receiving regular benefits at this time. Our lawyers can review your claim to make sure you are receiving your backpay and help explain your payment schedule.

Discuss Your Youngstown, Ohio, Disability Application With Our Team

Berger and Green understand how much you need disability benefits. If you cannot work because of your Crohn’s disease symptoms, we are here to help. Our Youngstown Crohn’s disease disability lawyer can file your claim or challenge a denial for you. 

Contact us today to get started with a free, confidential case review. We can assess your needs and offer our support and representation.