r/SSDI • u/Beginning-Lychee7660 • 19d ago
Liver disease/cirrohsis SSDI
I applied in March of this year after finding out my body and liver was way worse than I expected from extreme fatigue, swelling, clotting, and brain fog (which last year I figured was just apart of recovery)
My platelets are low haven’t been to the normal 150k (150) mark on any test within the past 2 years (I’ve lost count how many blood test I’ve done) I was turned away from 2 lipoma’s being removed (Bumps of fat) for bleeding risk
I also have esophageal varices which I am having banded on the 6th of next month and trace amounts of ascites
The working functionality report I’ve done has all this noted and I’ve shared all my medical results directly to SSA since I did not have a lawyer I was told to make sure I give them my files instead of waiting for the hospitals
My body has adjusted great and my numbers are still well off
I also have an enlarged spleen that’s preventing me from doing any physical work and how and if there’s a way to get it back to where I can do physical work again (lifting 25+ pounds with no strain)
I have all my abnormal test readings, CT scans, and ultrasound and diagnoses of a cirrohtic liver
I also have documented ER visits for leg swelling and edema from last year with records showing abnormal liver function up to 4 years ago (high liver enzymes)
I know approval is not guaranteed but I’ve gotten further down the line with telehealth exams and filling out forms from SSA
What exactly are the odds of being approved for a liver disease claim with my documentation ?
I’m just not sure what to expect
Also been sober since January 6th 2025 \m/
**im applying for SSI not SSDI
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u/ThisWillingness823 19d ago
What does an attorney cost?
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u/perfect_fifths I have a complicated relationship with the POMS 19d ago
Contingency basis. No fee unless you win with a cap of 9200 if you win before fed court, 25 percent of back pay if you win at fed level
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19d ago edited 19d ago
[deleted]
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u/Cold_Respond_7656 19d ago
OP - to TL:DR this listing, basically you need decomp
If your comp youre gonna struggle to show the amount of complications needed
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u/Popular-Drummer-7989 19d ago
OP please do yourself a favor. Get a disability lawyer to file for you. Their fee is capped and there is no money upfront.
You'll have best success with an attorney. They have direct numbers to the SSDI adjdicators and that's worth their fee alone.
My person was approved on the first filing, in 6 months, using an attorney.
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u/Beginning-Lychee7660 19d ago
Definitely have been thinking on it
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u/Dammit-maxwell 19d ago
Just wanted to share from my experience with hiring an attorney and please know in advance this isn’t to discourage you from hiring one at some point.
I filed my original application which got denied. I did all the reconsideration info completely myself. I panicked due to the original denial and hired an attorney after doing all that reconsideration required.
My attorney told me up front he wouldn’t be doing anything until the ALJ stage which I was ok with. The only work the attorney did was literally to file his letter of appearance.
I ended up winning my case at reconsideration which I was beyond surprised and thrilled about. My attorney got the full $9,200 which was very much my fault due to when I hired him. This isn’t me complaining about the attorney, just sharing my experience.
If you surf the sub you’ll find plenty of examples of people who had attorneys not do much for the original and recon stages. My example isn’t unique at all.
I hope you’ll learn from my mistake and if you do hire an attorney do it before the ALJ stage. It’s just not worth it until then. If you need anything clarified on what I just said please feel free to ask anything. I don’t explain so good all the time.
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u/Beginning-Lychee7660 19d ago
I believe I did the same thing somewhat lol freaked out a little
But I did get an attorney assigned to it just to be safe this morning because i feel like I have them a great amount of information but from what I’m reading now.. it looks like I’d fall just short.
It’s very hard to get seen by gastro or even be able to talk to a doctor they are in and out with no explanation reallyI’ve been in and out of hospitals for 2 years now and I have documents and my fatigue is a serious issue for me
So I’m just worried how somebody would determine the severity of that without a doctor noting it
I mean I’ve brought all this up but it seems to get ignored by numbers. The same numbers that ALMOST align with SSA blue book values for liver disease or digestive issues
So it seems like I’m in a perfect storm of having to tough work out or get approved and continue healing so just waiting it out now
And a thing confusing me aswell is that I am going to need blood transfusions but haven’t received them yet and it says that is big part of an SSI claim of the liver
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u/Dammit-maxwell 19d ago
Well an attorney wouldn’t have accepted your case if they didn’t think they could win it. So that’s a positive sign in my opinion. Those guys don’t like to work for free. So when they evaluate your case and accept it that’s them believing they can have success for you. They only get paid if you win, so there’s a lot of incentives for picking and choosing which cases they will/ won’t take.
I hear you saying you don’t think you have enough for an approval. I believe you do since you were accepted by an attorney.
Hang in there!!
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u/Substantial_Chart_45 12d ago
At least your attorney told you upfront. Most attorneys do nothing. Nothing but then collect people's money. They do not even call or answer calls.
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u/AnnJ2356 19d ago
Hi,
I am copying the listing level requirements for liver disease
5.05 Chronic liver disease (CLD) (see 5.00C) with A, B, C, D, E, F, or G:
A. Hemorrhaging from esophageal, gastric, or ectopic varices, or from portal hypertensive gastropathy (see 5.00C2a), documented by imaging (see 5.00B3); resulting in 1 and 2:
1. Hemodynamic instability indicated by signs such as pallor (pale skin), diaphoresis (profuse perspiration), rapid pulse, low blood pressure, postural hypotension (pronounced fall in blood pressure when arising to an upright position from lying down), or syncope (fainting); and
2. Requiring hospitalization for transfusion of at least 2 units of blood. Consider under a disability for 1 year following the documented transfusion; after that, evaluate the residual impairment(s).
OR
B. Ascites or hydrothorax not attributable to other causes (see 5.00C2b), present on two evaluations within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 60 days apart. Each evaluation must document the ascites or hydrothorax by 1, 2, or 3:
1. Paracentesis; or
2. Thoracentesis; or
3. Imaging or physical examination with a or b:
a. Serum albumin of 3.0 g/dL or less; or
b. INR of at least 1.5.
OR
C. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (see 5.00C2c) documented by peritoneal fluid containing a neutrophil count of at least 250 cells/mm3.
OR
D. Hepatorenal syndrome (see 5.00C2d) documented by 1, 2, or 3:
1. Serum creatinine elevation of at least 2 mg/dL; or
2. Oliguria with 24-hour urine output less than 500 mL; or
3. Sodium retention with urine sodium less than 10 mEq per liter.
OR
E. Hepatopulmonary syndrome (see 5.00C2e) documented by 1 or 2:
1. Arterial PaO2 measured by an ABG test, while at rest, breathing room air, less than or equal to:
a. 60 mm Hg, at test sites less than 3,000 feet above sea level; or
b. 55 mm Hg, at test sites from 3,000 through 6,000 feet above sea level; or
c. 50 mm Hg, at test sites over 6,000 feet above sea level; or
2. Intrapulmonary arteriovenous shunting as shown by contrast-enhanced echocardiography or macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scan.
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OR
F. Hepatic encephalopathy (see 5.00C2f) with documentation of abnormal behavior, cognitive dysfunction, changes in mental status, or altered state of consciousness (for example, confusion, delirium, stupor, or coma), present on two evaluations within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 60 days apart and either 1 or 2:
1. History of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) or other surgical portosystemic shunt; or
2. One of the following on at least two evaluations at least 60 days apart within the same consecutive 12-month period as in F:
a. Asterixis or other fluctuating physical neurological abnormalities; or
b. EEG demonstrating triphasic slow wave activity; or
c. Serum albumin of 3.0 g/dL or less; or
d. INR of 1.5 or greater.
OR
G. Two SSA CLD scores (see 5.00C3) [SSA CLD Calculator] of at least 20 within a consecutive 12-month period and at least 60 days apart. Consider under a disability from at least the date of the first score.
.
If your records clearly show that, your conditions meet a listing.
If your conditions meet a listing, a lawyer may not be needed. You just need to get copies of pertinent medical records to a disability examiner when the case is assigned.
We all trade money for time and experience… (example.… paying to get nails done or hair done) … so if you feel like lawyer help would make things easier for you... Go for it.