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Social Security’s rules recognize a wide variety of hematological disorders which, if severe enough, may qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration.
Hematological Disorders and Social Security Disability
Hematological disorders include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Chronic anemia (hematocrit persisting at 30 percent or less due to any cause), with (A) Requirement of one or more blood transfusions on an average of at least once every 2 months; or (B) Evaluation of the resulting impairment under criteria for the affected body system.
2. Sickle cell disease, with: (A) Documented painful (thrombotic) crises occurring at least three times during the 5 months prior to adjudication; or (B) Requiring extended hospitalization (beyond emergency care) at least three times during the 12 months prior to adjudication; or (C)Chronic, severe anemia with the persistence of hematocrit of 26 percent or less.
3. Chronic thrombocytopenia (due to any cause), with platelet counts repeatedly below 40,000/ cubic millimeter. With: (A) At least one spontaneous hemorrhage, requiring transfusion, within 5 months prior to adjudication; or (B) Intracranial bleeding within 12 months prior to adjudication.
4. Hereditary telangiectasia with hemorrhage requiring transfusion at least three times during the 5 months prior to adjudication.
5. Coagulation defects (hemophilia or a similar disorder), with spontaneous hemorrhage requiring transfusion at least three times during the 5months prior to adjudication.
6. Polycythemia vera (with erythrocytosis, splenomegaly, and leukocytosis or thrombocytosis).
7. Myelofibrosis (myeloproliferative syndrome), with (A) Chronic anemia; or (B) Documented recurrent systemic bacterial infections occurring at least 3 times during the 5 months prior to adjudication; or (C) Intractable bone pain with radiologic evidence of osteosclerosis.
8. Chronic granulocytopenia (due to any cause), with both A and B: (A) Absolute neutrophil counts repeatedly below 1,000 cells/cubic millimeter, and (B) Documented recurrent systemic bacterial infections occurring at least 3 times during the 5 months prior to adjudication.
9. Aplastic anemias with bone marrow or stem cell transplantation.
Section 7.00 of the Listing of Impairments
Some conditions are specifically addressed in the SSA’s Listing of Impairments.
7.01 Category of Impairments, Hematological Disorders
7.05 Hemolytic anemias, including sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and their variants (see 7.00C), with:
- Documented painful (vaso-occlusive) crises requiring parenteral (intravenous or intramuscular) narcotic medication, occurring at least six times within a 12-month period with at least 30 days between crises; or
- Complications of hemolytic anemia requiring at least three hospitalizations within a 12-month period and occurring at least 30 days apart. Each hospitalization must last at least 48 hours, which can include hours in a hospital emergency department or comprehensive sickle cell disease center immediately before the hospitalization (see 7.00C2); or
- Hemoglobin measurements of 7.0 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or less, occurring at least three times within a 12-month period with at least 30 days between measurements; or
- Beta thalassemia major requiring life-long RBC transfusions at least once every 6 weeks to maintain life (see 7.00C4).
7.08 Disorders of thrombosis and hemostasis, including hemophilia and thrombocytopenia (see 7.00D), with complications requiring at least three hospitalizations within a 12month period and occurring at least 30 days apart prior to adjudication. Each hospitalization must last at least 48 hours, which can include hours in the hospital emergency department or comprehensive hemophilia treatment center immediately before the hospitalization (see 7.00D2).
7.10 Disorders of bone marrow failure, including myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anemia, granulocytopenia, and myelofibrosis (see 7.00E),with:
- Complications of bone marrow failure requiring at least three hospitalizations within a 12-month period and occurring at least 30 days apart. Each hospitalization must last at least 48 hours, which can include hours in a hospital emergency department immediately before the hospitalization (see 7.00E2); or
- Myelodysplastic syndromes or aplastic anemias requiring life-long RBC transfusions at least once every 6 weeks to maintain life (see 7.00E3).
7.17 Hematological disorders treated by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation (see 7.00F). Consider under a disability for at least 12 consecutive months from the date of transplantation. After that, evaluate any residual impairment(s) under the criteria for the affected body system.
7.18 Repeated complications of hematological disorders (see 7.00G2) including those complications listed in 7.05, 7.08, and 7.10 but without the requisite findings for those listings, or other complications (for example, anemia, osteonecrosis, retinopathy, skin ulcers, silent central nervous system infarction, cognitive or other mental limitation, or limitation of joint movement), resulting in significant, documented symptoms or signs (for example, pain, severe fatigue, malaise, fever, night sweats, headaches, joint or muscle swelling, or shortness of breath), and one of the following at the marked level (see 7.00G4):
7.00 Hematological Disorders
- Limitation of activities of daily living (see 7.00G5).
- Limitation in maintaining social functioning (see 7.00G6).
- Limitation in completing tasks in a timely manner due to deficiencies in concentration, persistence, or pace (see 7.00G7).
Get Help with Your Social Security Disability Claim
If you have one of these hematological conditions and are just looking to see whether you qualify for disability benefits with the Social Security Administration, call Pensacola Social Security disability attorney like Nick A. Ortiz. He represents Social Security disability claimants nationwide and he has experience handling claims for hematological conditions. Call (888) 321-8131 for a free case evaluation.