Pittsburgh
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhaging Lawyer

On This Page

1. Does the Gastrointestinal Hemorrhaging Qualify for Benefits?
2. How Can I Get Disability If I Do Not Meet the Criteria in an Impairment Listing?
3. Does the SSA Have Other Requirements for Disability Applicants?
4. What Can I Do If the SSA Issued a Denial?
5. How Can I Talk to a Pittsburgh Attorney About Getting Disability Benefits for Gastrointestinal Hemorrhaging?

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

December 12, 2023

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Does the Gastrointestinal Hemorrhaging Qualify for Benefits?

If you suffer from severe gastrointestinal hemorrhaging, the pain, fatigue, and other symptoms may make it impossible to continue to work. This could leave you in financial trouble. Often, the only answer is to apply for disability benefits. Depending on your diagnosis, symptoms, and other factors, you may qualify for monthly benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

At Berger and Green, we know what it takes to get disability based on a gastrointestinal hemorrhaging diagnosis. We can review your claim and offer advice on how to best document your condition’s effect on your ability to work. We can also file an appeal on your behalf if the SSA denied your claim for benefits. If you live in Pittsburgh and need help getting Social Security Disability for gastrointestinal hemorrhaging, call us today at 412-661-1400. We offer complimentary consultations.

Gastrointestinal hemorrhaging does qualify for benefits under the SSA’s Blue Book of impairment listings. You may be eligible for disability based on this diagnosis if you meet certain medical criteria. The SSA outlines these criteria in Section 5.02 of the Blue Book. To qualify for monthly benefits, you must have medical evidence that shows:

• Your condition requires blood transfusions of two or more units each;
• You must undergo three or more transfusions during a single six-month span; and
• These occur at least 30 days apart.

To prove you qualify for benefits, your medical records should include test results, details of your treatment, your progress, and other documentation. For example, the SSA will most likely expect to see blood test results, information about an endoscopy or colonoscopy, and other studies in your file. The SSA may also look for medical imaging results, such as an abdominal x-ray, MRI, or CT scan.

If you do not meet these criteria, you could meet the qualifications in another impairment listing. If your gastrointestinal hemorrhaging stems from another digestive disorder, you might be able to draw benefits based on that diagnosis.

If you are not sure if you qualify for benefits based on your gastrointestinal hemorrhaging, contact our attorneys today. We can review the Blue Book with you to see if you are eligible for benefits under a listing. If not, we can help you pursue other options to get the disability you need.

How Can I Get Disability If I Do Not Meet the Criteria in an Impairment Listing?

Even if your gastrointestinal hemorrhaging is not severe enough to meet the impairment listing, you may still be able to get disability based on your residual functional capacity (RFC). Once the SSA disability examiner sees you do not suffer from a condition in the Blue Book, they automatically consider your RFC.

Your RFC is an evaluation of whether you can complete some everyday tasks. It will show the type of tasks you can do, the activity level you can handle, and how long you can work.

The SSA will establish your RFC in one of three ways:

• It will review your claim, medical evidence, and other information;
• It may ask your doctor to complete an evaluation; or
• It could ask another doctor to complete the assessment.

If your RFC shows you can no longer work, you may be eligible for benefits.

Does the SSA Have Other Requirements for Disability Applicants?

In addition to suffering from a qualifying impairment for at least a year, there are other qualifications you need to meet to get disability benefits. It is important not to overlook these technical requirements. They differ for each of the SSA’s disability programs, which are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

SSDI offers benefits to workers whose health conditions prevent them from working. For this reason, the program requires you to have worked enough years to earn a certain number of work credits based on your age. You must also earn below a specific income limit each month. If you have worked in the past and you make less than the income limit, you may qualify.

SSI offers monthly payments to eligibility for SSI and families who are extremely low income and need extra help making ends meet. It has very strict income and asset limits. There is no work credit requirement, so even children or those who have not worked for several years may qualify.

What Can I Do If the SSA Issued a Denial?

While no one wants to receive a denial letter from the SSA, it is important to know that the disability appeals process is an effective way to get your denial overturned, recover back pay, and get the benefits you need. We can help you navigate this process. You only have a short period after your denial to request an appeals hearing, so contact us as quickly as possible.

After we request your appeals hearing, we will take a close look at your claim. We will identify the reason the SSA denied your benefits and collect the documentation necessary to show you deserve them. On the day of the hearing, we will help you present a solid case to the administrative law judge. Frequently, we can convince them to overturn our clients’ denials.

How Can I Talk to a Pittsburgh Attorney About Getting Disability Benefits for Gastrointestinal Hemorrhaging?

The disability team at Berger and Green will fight for you, helping you get the benefits you need and deserve. Call us today at 412-661-1400 for a free consultation. We can help if you have any questions about an initial application or if you need representation during the appeals process.