Social Security Disability For Skin Disorders

Social Security recognizes a wide variety of skin disorders which, if severe enough, may qualify for Social Security disability benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Skin Disorders

Skin disorders that could qualify you to receive disability benefits include, but are not limited to:

1. Ichthyosis, with extensive skin lesions that persist for at least 3 months despite continuing treatment as prescribed.
2. Bullous disease (for example, pemphigus, erythema multiforme bullosum, epidermolysis bullosa, bullous pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis), with extensive skin lesions that persist for at least 3 months despite continuing treatment as prescribed.
3. Chronic infections of the skin or mucous membranes, with extensive fungating or extensive ulcerating skin lesions that persist for at least 3 months despite continuing treatment as prescribed.
4. Dermatitis (for example, psoriasis, dyshidrosis, atopic dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis), with extensive skin lesions that persist for at least 3 months despite continuing treatment as prescribed.
5. Dermatomyositis is a muscle disease typically characterized by inflammation and a skin rash.
6. Hidradenitis suppurativa, with extensive skin lesions involving both axillae, both inguinal areas or the perineum that persist for at least 3 months despite continuing treatment as prescribed.
7. Genetic photosensitivity disorders, including but not limited to xeroderma pigmentosum.
8. Burns, with extensive skin lesions that have lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months.

Listing of Impairments – Section 8.00

Skin Disorders are covered by the Listing of Impairments in section 8.00 Skin Disorders.

8.01 Category of Impairments, Skin Disorders

8.07 Genetic photosensitivity disorders, established as described in 8.00E. The requirements of this listing are met if either paragraph A or paragraph B is satisfied.

1. Xeroderma pigmentosum (see 8.00E1); or
2. Other genetic photosensitivity disorders (see 8.00E2) with either 1 or 2:
   • Chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3) that cause an inability to function outside of a highly protective environment (see 8.00E4); or
   • Chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3) causing chronic pain or other physical limitation(s) that result in impairment-related functional limitations (see 8.00D2), as evidenced by:
     • Inability to use both upper extremities to the extent that neither can be used to independently initiate, sustain, and complete work-related activities involving fine and gross movements (see 8.00B5) due to chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3); or
     • Inability to use one upper extremity to independently initiate, sustain, and complete work-related activities involving fine and gross movements (see 8.00B5) due to chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3), and a documented medical need (see 8.00B4) for an assistive device (see 8.00B1) that requires the use of the other upper extremity; or
     • Inability to stand up from a seated position and maintain an upright position to the extent needed to independently initiate, sustain, and complete work-related activities due to chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3) affecting at least two extremities (including when the limitations are due to involvement of the perineum or the inguinal region); or

8.08 Burns (see 8.00F). Burns that do not require continuing surgical management (see 8.00B6), or that have been documented by an acceptable medical source to have reached maximum therapeutic benefit and therefore are no longer receiving surgical management, resulting in chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3) causing chronic pain or other physical limitation(s) that result in impairment-related functional limitations (see 8.00D2), as evidenced by:

1. Inability to use both upper extremities to the extent that neither can be used to independently initiate, sustain, and complete work-related activities involving fine and gross movements (see 8.00B5) due to chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3); or
2. Inability to use one upper extremity to independently initiate, sustain, and complete work-related activities involving fine and gross movements (see 8.00B5) due to chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3), and a documented medical need (see 8.00B4) for an assistive device (see 8.00B1) that requires the use of the other upper extremity; or
3. Inability to stand up from a seated position and maintain an upright position to the extent needed to independently initiate, sustain, and complete work-related activities due to chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3) affecting at least two extremities (including when the limitations are due to involvement of the perineum or the inguinal region); or
4. Inability to maintain an upright position while standing or walking to the extent needed to independently initiate, sustain, and complete work-related activities due to chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3) affecting both lower extremities (including when the limitations are due to involvement of the perineum or the inguinal region).

8.09 Chronic conditions of the skin or mucous membranes (see 8.00G) resulting in:

1. Chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3) causing chronic pain or other physical limitation(s) that persist despite adherence to prescribed medical treatment for 3 months (see 8.00D5b); and
2. Impairment-related functional limitations (see 8.00D2) demonstrated by:
   • Inability to use both upper extremities to the extent that neither can be used to independently initiate, sustain, and complete work-related activities involving fine and gross movements (see 8.00B5) due to chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3); or
   • Inability to use one upper extremity to independently initiate, sustain, and complete work-related activities involving fine and gross movements (see 8.00B5) due to chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3), and a documented medical need (see 8.00B4) for an assistive device (see 8.00B1) that requires the use of the other upper extremity; or
   • Inability to stand up from a seated position and maintain an upright position to the extent needed to independently initiate, sustain, and complete work-related activities due to chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3) affecting at least two extremities (including when the limitations are due to involvement of the perineum or the inguinal region); or
   • Inability to maintain an upright position while standing or walking to the extent needed to independently initiate, sustain, and complete work-related activities due to chronic skin lesions (see 8.00B2) or contractures (see 8.00B3) affecting both lower extremities (including when the limitations are due to involvement of the perineum or the inguinal region).

8.00 Skin Disorders

Get Help with Your Social Security Disability Claim

If you have one of these skin disorders and are looking to see whether you qualify for disability benefits with the Social Security Administration, call Pensacola Social Security Disability attorney Nick A. Ortiz. Mr. Ortiz represents Social Security Disability claimants nationwide and he has experience handling claims for skin disorders. Call (888) 321-8131 for a free case evaluation.