Can I Get Social Security Disability for Weight Loss Due to a Digestive Disorder?

If you have been dealing with weight loss due to a digestive disorder and are unable to work in any capacity, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

Social Security Listing 5.08

Social Security has included weight loss due to a digestive disorder in its Blue Book of disability listings. However, just losing weight as the result of a digestive disorder is not enough to be considered disabled. Social Security considers applications for disability based on weight loss due to a digestive disorder under Listing 5.08. To meet this listing, you must be losing weight due to a digestive disorder, despite continuing prescribed treatment. You must have a BMI of less than 17.50 on two different evaluations conducted at least sixty days apart within a consecutive six-month period.

I Don’t Meet the Listing!

If you do not meet the listing, you may still qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits. To prove that you are disabled and unable to work, you will need medical evidence that shows the severity of your impairment. Social Security will need reliable medical evidence from your doctors to show them that your condition limits you and prevents you from working.

Unfortunately, one of the most common reasons for a denial is not enough medical evidence. It is important that you keep a log of all doctors, hospitals, and clinics you have seen for your weight loss and digestive disorder, including any inpatient stays or hospitalizations.

If you do not meet the listing, Social Security will consider your residual functional capacity (RFC). Your RFC outlines your job restrictions and will be used to determine if you can go back to your past work. Your RFC is also used to determine whether there is other work available for you.

Jacksonville Social Security Disability Attorney

If you have been dealing with weight loss due to a digestive disorder and are unable to work in any capacity due to your physical condition, contact a local attorney today. An attorney can help answer your questions or help you apply for disability.