If you are suffering from the pain and fatigue that come with lupus, you may have difficulty even getting out of bed. So how are you supposed to function at work? If you are concerned about your ability to work and want to know more about seeking disability benefits, it is important to work with an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer.
At Crowe & Shanahan in St. Louis, our experienced attorneys are committed to securing the benefits our disabled clients are entitled to. Our clients are names, not just case files. As your claim moves through the legal process, you will always have easy access to the attorney who is handling your case.
While other Social Security Disability firms focus on maintaining a national practice, we focus exclusively on representing clients in St. Louis, eastern Missouri and southern Illinois. To schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys, please call 314-231-6660 or contact us online.
Our only focus is on getting you the disability benefits you need. While it can be difficult to pursue claims involving lupus, you can count on us to pursue all legal avenues for securing benefits. Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration (SSA) can only grant benefits for disabilities that can be shown, and lupus is not something will show up on some common medical tests, such as X-rays.
While lupus is an autoimmune disorder that can be mistaken for many other conditions, one telltale sign in some sufferers is a rash across the nose and both cheeks that resembles a butterfly. If you have this symptom or any of the following, contact a doctor:
We will work closely with you and your doctor to demonstrate your symptoms and show how they are preventing you from working. To qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits, you must be unable to work for a continuous period of at least 12 months. If you are able to return eventually, you may be able to receive back pay for your closed period of disability.
The SSA’s “Blue Book” is a list of medical conditions and clinical criteria that the SSA considers severe enough to qualify for disability benefits. If your condition satisfies Blue Book listing criteria, the SSA will find you disabled without needing to evaluate your work history or job options.
Lupus falls under Blue Book Listing 14.02, which covers systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To meet this listing, you must show that your lupus affects at least two body systems or organs, and that you experience at least two of the following:
The SSA also requires that your symptoms cause a “marked” limitation in at least one of these areas
You can also qualify as disabled under Listing 14.02 if your condition is severe enough to cause repeated flare-ups that cause significant symptoms and require extended recovery periods. The SSA will look at the totality of your medical record to determine whether you meet Blue Book criteria. Consistent treatment and thorough documentation from your doctors carry a lot of weight in SSA evaluations.
It’s worth noting that the SSA’s listing criteria are detailed and can be difficult to interpret on your own. Many claimants who do meet the criteria still face denials because their medical records don’t clearly reflect their conditions. Our experienced SSD attorneys can review your records to identify any gaps and help you present the strongest possible case to the SSA.
If you have lupus and are wondering whether you qualify for SSD benefits, you’re not alone. Here are some straightforward answers to the questions our law firm receives most frequently from clients like you throughout Missouri and Illinois.
Yes. Many lupus claimants don’t meet Blue Book criteria exactly, but that doesn’t mean they can’t qualify for benefits. Social Security can also evaluate your claim by assessing your residual functional capacity (RFC), which is a measure of what you can still do despite your condition. The SSA weighs your RFC against your age, education, and work history to determine whether any jobs exist that you could reasonably perform. If your condition rules out all available work, you could still qualify for benefits.
This is one of the most common concerns our attorneys hear from lupus patients. The short answer is yes. The SSA doesn’t require your symptoms to be constant. What matters is how your condition affects you overall, including during flare-ups. A strong medical record that documents the frequency, severity, and duration of your flares is key in these cases. If your symptoms are unpredictable enough to prevent you from maintaining regular, full-time work, that could support a disability finding.
Don’t get discouraged. Most SSD claims get denied at least once, and a denial is not the end of the road. The SSA has a formal appeals process, and many claimants succeed upon appeal. The lawyers at Crowe & Shanahan handle all levels of the appeals process for clients throughout Missouri and Illinois. We know what it takes to build a stronger case the second time around. The sooner you contact our law firm after a denial, the more time we’ll have to prepare a thorough appeal before the deadline.
The SSA administers benefits at the federal level, so the basic eligibility requirements are the same whether you live in Missouri or Illinois. That said, individual SSA field offices can vary in their processing times and procedures. Our disability lawyers represent clients throughout eastern Missouri and the Metro East and southern Illinois, so we’re familiar with the local process on both sides of the river.
We look forward to helping you get the Social Security Disability benefits you need. Contact our firm today to schedule a meeting with an attorney.
We take pride in the strong professional and personal relationships we build with each client. You will meet with the attorney early on and that same attorney will be with you throughout the process. You can rely on us to give you honest advice about your options because this is the right thing to do.
As your advocates, we will remain by your side throughout the process, developing a strategy that fits your specific circumstances. Your legal and financial issues are unique, so we tailor our advice according to your situation. Many individuals and families have benefited from this legal approach.
