Disability for Hematological Disorders

This March is Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month! Hemophilia is perhaps the best-known bleeding disorder; however, other factor deficiency disorders can also significantly impact a person’s daily life. Bleeding disorders are a group of conditions that result when the blood cannot clot properly. In normal clotting, platelets (a type of blood cell) stick together and form a plug at the site of an injured blood vessel. Proteins in the blood called clotting factors then interact to form a fibrin clot, essentially a gel plug, which holds the platelets in place and allows healing to occur at the site of the injury while preventing blood from escaping the blood vessel. While too much clotting can lead to conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, the inability to form clots can be very dangerous as well, as it can result in excessive bleeding. Bleeding can result from either too few or abnormal platelets, abnormal or low amounts of clotting proteins, or abnormal blood vessels.

The Social Security Administration specifically recognizes several hematological disorders which often meet the criteria for eligibility for disability benefits, including hemolytic anemias, sickle cell anemia, thrombosis and/or hemostasis disorders (including hemophilia), and bone marrow failure. You can apply for Social Security Disability on the basis of any physical or medical disability condition (including blood disorders) which leaves you unable to perform the work which you have done in the past. In order to qualify, you must also prove to the Social Security Administration that your condition prohibits you from being reasonably trained to perform a different kind of work. You must also demonstrate that you anticipate being disabled for at least a year or that your disability is likely to end in your death.

If you or someone you know is unable to work due to a medical condition, please contact us for a free evaluation of your claim!

SSA’s hematological listings: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/7.00-HemicandLymphatic-Adult.htm

Information on bleeding disorders: http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Bleeding.aspx

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC^®