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Under the Social Security rules for cystic fibrosis (CF), you can get automatic payments for your condition if you meet specific criteria, such as chronic respiratory infections or severely limited lung function. However, if you do not meet these exact requirements, it does not mean that you do not qualify for benefits.
A Doctor's Restrictions May Qualify You for Social Security Payments
Many patients with CF may not have the exact symptoms laid out by the Social Security Administration, but experience specific medical problems that make daily life difficult. For instance, you may have restrictions on how much you are able to lift, how far you can walk, or how often you must rest when doing physical activities. You may also have frequent percussion therapy or nebulization appointments that cannot be rescheduled or suffer from severe sleep apnea that makes driving unsafe. In these cases, you may be able to get benefits based on your doctor’s recommendation.
To be eligible for CF disability payments using a doctor’s clinical opinion, your application should include the following:
- Medical documentation that thoroughly outlines your medical history, symptoms, clinical and laboratory findings, and your diagnosis and prognosis
- Focus on whether or not you can work and how your condition factors into this decision
- Specific mention of how frequent you suffer attacks or infections
- How long you were treated at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha or other hospitals
- Your medication regimen, including length of time you have been taking the drugs, when and how they are administered, and the dosage for each
Having trouble making your case to Social Security? Email [email protected] today to find out how we can help, or click the link on this page to order our free informational guide, Why You Should Hire an Attorney to Handle Your Social Security Disability Claim.