Pittsburgh
Thyroid Gland Disorders Lawyer

On This Page

1. Get Disability Benefits With Thyroid Gland Disorders
2. Meeting the Definition of “Disabled” Based on Your Medical Condition and Symptoms
3. Getting Disability Benefits Without Meeting a Blue Book Listing
4. Do Not Overlook the Importance of the Technical Qualifications for Disability.
5. Let Us Help You Navigate the Disability Appeals Process.
6. Talk to a Pittsburgh Disability Lawyer About Your Claim Today.

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

December 12, 2023

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Get Disability Benefits With Thyroid Gland Disorders

If you cannot continue working your job or another job you qualify for because of a thyroid gland disorder, you might be eligible for disability benefits. These could include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

The disability lawyers at Berger and Green understand how to qualify for Social Security Disability for thyroid gland disorders. We can help you understand your options if the Social Security Administration (SSA) denied your benefits. If you have not yet applied, a member of our team can help you apply or review your application before you file it. We might also be able to help you pursue damages if your condition occurred because of a personal injury accident.

Call our Pittsburgh office today at 412-661-1400 for a free consultation.

Meeting the Definition of “Disabled” Based on Your Medical Condition and Symptoms

The SSA publishes a book of impairment listings that outlines the criteria you must meet to get disability. Known as the Blue Book, this publication can help you understand how severe your condition must be to qualify for benefits.

While endocrine system disorders fall under Section 9.00 of the Blue Book, this section points you to other listings that might apply to your condition. That means you qualify for benefits based on your related symptoms, not your diagnosis of a thyroid gland disorder.

Depending on your symptoms, you could qualify for benefits under:

• Section 4.00, if you suffer from cardiovascular problems; or
• Section 5.00, if you have digestive complications; or
• Section 11.00, if your thyroid disorder causes neurological symptoms; or
• Section 12.00, if you suffer from a mental health disorder.

We recommend discussing your application for disability with your doctor before you file. Your doctor can help with your disability case by determining if you meet the criteria in an impairment listing, and making sure you have the medical evidence to support your claim. Your doctor may also need to fill out some paperwork for the SSA disability examiner evaluating your case.

Getting Disability Benefits Without Meeting a Blue Book Listing

We often see clients who do not meet a listing but cannot work because of their disability. In these cases, the SSA allows you to qualify for benefits based on your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC). Your RFC is an evaluates:

• The type of work you can do; and
• How long you can work; and
• How often you can work.

This evaluation can occur in one of three ways:

• A doctor from Disability Determination Services evaluates your RFC based on your application, medical records, and other evidence; or
• Your doctor evaluates your RFC based on your medical records and their knowledge of your condition; or
• A third-party doctor examines you and evaluates your RFC during a consultative medical exam.

If you cannot work your previous job or any other job you might get hired to do, you will likely get approved for disability benefits based on your RFC.

Do Not Overlook the Importance of the Technical Qualifications for Disability.

While meeting the medical criteria for disability is an essential part of the application process, it is also important to meet the technical qualifications before you file your application. These requirements deal with things like your work history, your income, your personal assets, and the identifying information you include on your application.

If you do not meet all the technical qualifications, you will receive a technical denial. Some of the most common reasons this occurs include:

• You left blanks on the application; or
• Your name, birthdate, and Social Security Number do not match; or
• You accidentally entered incorrect information; or
• You did not work long enough or recently enough to satisfy the requirements for SSDI; or
• You did not meet the income and asset limits in the requirements for SSI.

Let Us Help You Navigate the Disability Appeals Process.

If you received a denial letter after applying for disability, you are not alone. Many applicants have to navigate the disability appeals process to get the benefits they need. In Pennsylvania, you have 60 days from the date of your letter to begin this process.

Because you only have a short time to act, we recommend giving us a call right away. We can help you understand what it takes to fight your denial, and we will handle the entire process for you. We will do whatever we can to secure your benefits, including:

• Requesting an appeals hearing on your behalf; and
• Looking into your denial and helping you understand what went wrong; and
• Collecting evidence to support your appeal; and
• Presenting the evidence of your qualifications during an appeals hearing with an Administrative Law Judge; and
• Taking any other necessary steps to try to get you approved for benefits.

The disability appeals process can take more than a year to complete, but your unpaid benefits will accumulate during this period. This means you might be able to recover significant back pay through the appeals process, in addition to getting approved for the monthly payments you deserve.

Talk to a Pittsburgh Disability Lawyer About Your Claim Today.

At Berger and Green, our disability team can review your application before you apply or help you fight for the benefits you deserve after a denial. We offer free consultations, and you do not owe us anything until we settle your case.

Call us today at 412-661-1400 to get help securing the disability benefits you need.