How to Get on Disability for Chronic Hepatitis C

If you’ve been diagnosed with Hepatitis C and your condition severely affects your ability to work, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits. Social Security Disability will pay you monthly benefits if it is determined that your condition will affect your ability to work for at least the next 12 months and you’ve earned enough work credits to qualify for the program. Being prepared for the long application process will help significantly increase your chances for approval.

Things You'll Need

• Social security card
• Medical records
• Employment history
• Education history
• Contact info for your state representatives

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Instructions

Get on Disability for Chronic Hepatitis C

• 1

  Discuss your condition with your doctor. He or she should agree that your Hepatitis C is severe enough to interfere with your ability to perform normal activities. Even though you may not be able to work at your current job, the Social Security Administration will expect you to prove that you are unable to perform other types of work as well. If you and your doctor agree about your condition and your inability to work, he or she may be able to help you complete the paperwork needed for SSD benefit approval.

• 2

  Collect everything you need to complete the application. Completing the SSD application is a long and arduous task but your job will be much easier if you have access to everything you need before you get started. You’ll need detailed information about the education you’ve received, your work history, and contact information for the doctors and hospitals you’ve consulted about your condition.

• 3

  Apply for Social Security Disability as soon as possible. The sooner you apply for SSD benefits, the sooner your payments will start. You can apply online at the Social Security Administration website or in person at your local SSA office.

• 4

  Respond to all requests from SSA promptly. Within a few days of receiving your application, the Social Security Administration will send a confirmation letter through the mail stating that your application is in the review process and that more information may be needed to expedite the handling of your claim. Respond quickly to these requests to avoid a delay in the approval process.

• 5

  Contact your state representatives and ask them to help you with your disability claim. Your state Congressperson and Senators will be more than happy to help you especially if Election Day is fast approaching. Compose a well-written letter explaining your situation and detailing why you feel that your claim should receive priority. The representative will send a quick note asking SSA to speed along the decision making process and you’ll receive a copy of the note for your records.

• 6

  Hire an attorney and reapply immediately if your claim is denied. Nearly 80 percent of those that file for disability a second time without the help of an attorney are denied again. Save yourself the time and hire a qualified attorney as soon as you receive notice that your claim has been denied. The Social Security Administration has strict laws in place regarding the fee an attorney may charge to help you file for disability. That fee may be no more than 25 percent of the lump sum benefit you’ll receive from the back pay owed to you. For example if you are entitled to receive $8,000 in retroactive benefits, your attorney’s fees may be no more than $2,000. You may not even have to go to court in order to receive benefits if you’ve enlisted an attorney’s help!