Social Security Disability & Kidney Disease

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides disability benefits to people who are unable to work due to a medical condition or disability, including severe kidney disease. According to the National Kidney Foundation, 26 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease, which can be very disabling.

Dialysis

• Dialysis is a process for filtering waste products out of the blood when the kidneys are unable to perform that function. People who require regular dialysis for kidney disease usually qualify for Social Security Disability.

Kidney Transplant

• People in need of kidney transplants usually qualify for Social Security Disability for a period of at least one year after receiving a transplant. At that point, Social Security evaluates whether they are able to return to work or if they continue to qualify for benefits.

Elevated Serum Creatinine

• People with kidney disease can also qualify for SSDI if their serum creatinine is at least 4 mg per deciliter for a period of at least three months, and they also have renal osteodystrophy (which causes severe bone pain), neuropathy (a disorder of the nerves), fluid overload syndrome (which causes high blood pressure) or severe weight loss. This must be documented in the person’s medical records.

Prognosis

• In order to qualify for SSDI, a person’s condition must be expected to last for at least one year or to result in death. Social Security does not provide any short-term disability benefits.

Medicare

• Once a person has been disabled for two years, he will qualify for Medicare. Medicare is a federal program that helps pay for medical care for the elderly and disabled, and it will help pay for the treatment of kidney disease.