HEMOPHILIA DISABILITY BENEFITS

WHAT IS HEMOPHILIA?

Hemophilia is a medical condition that causes excessive bleeding due to a deficiency of clotting agents in the blood.

Because the blood doesn’t clot normally, people with hemophilia who have a minor cut or bruise can lose a lot of blood. Hemophilia can also cause nosebleeds and bleeding in the gums that is dangerous to health. Internal bleeding is also possible inside the muscles, joints, and organs. Too much blood loss can result in death.

If you have hemophilia and is causes you to be unable to work for more than 12 months, then the SSA should pay you Social Security benefits. SSI benefits are also also available if you cannot work due to hemophilia and meet SSA’s income and asset rules.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF HEMOPHILIA:  TYPE A & TYPE B

There are two type of Hemophilia:  type A and type B.

Hemophilia A is the most common form of the condition. Hemophilia A occurs in about 1 in 5,000 male births worldwide. By contrast, Hemophilia B occurs in about 1 in 25,000 male births. As with most genetic conditions carried on the X chromosome, hemophilia is more common in males than females. In the United States, there are between 30,000 – 33,000 males with hemophilia. Despite the fact that the condition mostly effects men, all races and ethnic groups have the disease in equal numbers.

The treatment for hemophilia consists of injections of the deficient clotting factor that is lacking in either type A or type B. Additionally, the doctor usually tells you to exercise in order to increase your joint strength. If you have hemophilia, however, then you should not play contact sports like football. You could be injured and that could cause severe bleeding.

Hemophilia A is known as classic hemophilia and also “factor 8 deficiency.” Factor 8 is the clotting protein that is missing due to a genetic defect. Although hemophilia A is a disorder that is passed down from parents to kids, in one third of cases there is no previous family history of the condition.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEMOPHILIA A?

Obviously, the main symptoms of hemophilia A is uncontrolled bleeding. However, people with hemophilia A can bleed internally. They can bleed into their joints and muscles. Additionally, they can bleed from cuts or injuries. How often a person bleeds and the severity of the bleeding depends on how much factor 8 a person produces.

Normal levels of factor 8 range from 50% to 150% in your blood. If you have a lower level of factor 8 in your blood, then you will have various symptoms.

For example, if you have 6% to 49% of factor 8 in ou blood, then you will have mild hemophilia A. Men with mild hemophilia A experience bleeding only after a serious injury or surgery. Women with mild hemophilia often experience heavy menstrual bleeding. Additionally, they bleed extensively after childbirth.

Moderate hemophilia occurs when you have 1% to 5% of factor 8 in your blood. People with moderate hemophilia A tend to have bleeding episodes after injuries.

Severe hemophilia A occurs when there is less than 1% of factor 8 in your blood. People with severe hemophilia A will bleed after an injury. Likewise, they may have spontaneous episodes of bleeding. Many boys are found to have hemophilia after circumcision because of severe bleeding.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HEMOPHILIA B?

Hemophilia B has two other names. For example, it is known as Christmas disease and as Factor 9 deficiency. The name Christmas disease comes from the first person to be found to have Hemophilia B in 1952. How name was Stephen Christmas. 

As the second most common type of hemophilia, type B occurs in about 1 in 25,000 male births. Like type A, it is a genetic disorder caused by missing or defective factor 9 clotting protein. Although hemophilia B is passed down from parent to child, almost one third of cases are brought about by a spontaneous mutation in the genes.

People who have hemophilia B bleed longer than other people. Like type A, bleeding can occur internally and externally. How often a person with the condition bleeds depends on how much factor 9 is in the plasma, the yellow fluid portion of blood. Factor IX or 9 is a protein produced naturally in the body. It helps the blood form clots to stop bleeding. Doctors use injections of factor 9 to treat hemophilia B.

Mild hemophilia occurs when you fave 6% to 49% of factor 9 in your blood. People with mild hemophilia B experience bleeding only after serious trauma or possibly an operation.

Moderate hemophilia B occurs when you have up to 1% up to 5% of factor 9 in the blood. People with moderate hemophilia B tend to have bleeding episodes after being injured.

Severe hemophilia occurs when you have less than one percent of factor 9 in your blood. People with severe hemophilia B experience bleeding following an injury and can also have many spontaneous bleeding episodes.

SOCIAL SECURITY LISTING 7.08 FOR HEMOPHILIA

The Social Security Administration has an official listing for hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. This listing is under Hematological Disorders, listing 7.08.

Listing 7.08, Disorders of Thrombosis and Hemostasis

To meet listing 7.08, you must have hemophilia with complications that require at least three hospital visits within a 12 month period. Each visit to the hospital must occur at least 30 days apart prior to adjudication. Also, each visit to the hospital must last at least 48 hours, which can include hours in the hospital emergency department or  hemophilia treatment center immediately before the visit to the hospital.

While most blood defects cause excessive bleeding, hypercoagulation disorders, such as protein C or protein S deficiency and Factor V Leiden, can also meet this listing.

Listing 7.18, Repeated Complications of Hematological Disorders

The SSA has another listing under hematological disorders. This SSA listing is listing 7.18 and it is for repeated complications of hematological disorders. Complications that could qualify under this listing include hospitalizations, osteonecrosis, and retinopathy. It also includes skin ulcers, anemia, cognitive or other mental limitations, and severe fatigue. Additionally, these complications must result in significant symptoms or signs. For example, symptoms or signs can be pain, severe fatigue, malaise, fever, night sweats, headaches, joint or muscle swelling, and shortness of breath. Finally, you must also prove one of the following at the marked level:

• doing activities of daily living
• interacting with others people appropriately, or
• completing tasks in a timely manner due to problems with focus, persistence, or pace.

Repeated complications means that the problems with your condition occur on an average of three times a year, or once every 4 months, each lasting 2 weeks or more. Or, it can mean that the complications do not last for 2 weeks but occur more frequently than three times in a year or once every 4 months. Additionally, it can mean that complications occur less frequently than an average of three times a year or once every 4 months but last longer than 2 weeks.

Your blood condition will satisfy the criteria whether you have the same kind of problem repeatedly or different combinations of complications. Additionally, the complications must occur within the period for which you are claiming SSD benefits.

WHAT DOES THE SSA MEAN BY OTHER BLEEDING DISORDERS?

Other Bleeding Disorders: Von Willebrand Disease and Thrombocytopenia

Von Willebrand disease and thrombocytopenia, like hemophilia, are examples of hypocoagulation disorders.

WHAT IS VON WILLEBRAND DISEASE?

Von Willebrand (VWD) disease, like hemophilia, is a clotting factor deficiency. The Von Willebrand factor helps platelets clump together and clot the blood. In those people with VWD, they are either missing or have a low clotting protein von Willebrand factor.

For blood to clot, VWF binds to factor VIII (8), another clotting protein, and platelets in blood vessel walls. This process forms a platelet plug during the clotting process. People with VWD are not able to form this platelet plug or it takes too long for the plug to form. Because the blood cannot clot, they have a bleeding disorder.

VWD is named after Finnish doctor Erik von Willebrand, who first described the medical condition in the 1920s.

Von Willebrand disease occurs in almost one of every 1,000 people.  Males and females have the condition in equal amounts. VWD is the most common bleeding disorder and it affects 1% of the US population. If you have VWD, then you may have easy bruising, nosebleeds, rashes, oral bleeding, and severe menstrual bleeding.  Serious cases of VWF require medication to increase the level of Von Willebrand factor in the blood.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN SYMPTOMS OF VWD?

The main symptoms of VWD are:

• More than 5 nosebleeds a year that last longer than 10 minutes
• Bleeding from cuts for longer than 10 minutes
• Bruising
• Being treated for anemia
• Heavy bleeding after surgery
• Having other people in your family with a bleeding condition such as VWD or hemophilia.
• For women who menstruate:
  • Heavy periods and heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Heavy bleeding after giving birth or having a miscarriage

ANOTHER BLOOD DISORDER: CHRONIC THROMBOCYTOPENIA

Platelets are an important part of the blood because they assist in blood coagulation. A normal amount of platelets is 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter of blood. Those with fewer than 150,000 platelets per microliter have thrombocytopenia. This is a blood disease that can cause excessive bleeding and easy bruising. However, if it is very serious, it can cause intestinal or intracranial bleeding.

Most cases of thrombocytopenia are mild. But, platelet levels below 40,000 per microliter can be severe and if you have under 10,000 platelets it can result in death. Possible treatments for the condition include steroid medications and blood transfusions.

RESIDUAL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY (RFC) AND HEMOPHILIA

The RFC is the medical assessment of what you can physically and mentally do in a work setting. It is how the SSA looks at your limits after taking into account all of your hemophilia symptoms.

However, your RFC includes both your physical and mental limitations. In terms of physical limits, the SSA tries to define your ability to sit, stand, walk, and lift, during the course of an 8 hour workday. Likewise, the SSA will include your ability to carry, pull, and push. Find out how the SSA defines work.

The RFC also includes your mental symptoms. If you have anxiety from having hemophilia, then you need to seek treatment. Your treatment records give the SSA an understanding of how your mental symptoms would keep you from working.

RFC FINDINGS COME FROM YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS

If you cannot win benefits by meeting a listing, then you can try to win by proving your blood disease limits your RFC. In other words, you can try to prove that your symptoms limit you to the point that you cannot work a 40 hour work week.

In order to figure out your physical RFC, the SSA will examine your medical records. They will take into account what your doctor states in your medical records. Also, the SSA will review any statements about your ability to work. Likewise, if they need more information, they may send you to visit one of their doctors. Learn what to expect at the SSA’s doctor exam.

The SSA will also consider descriptions about your limits from your family, neighbors and friends. For example, your family or friends could write a statement about what symptoms they have seen. They can talk about your mental and physical symptoms. Find out more about how RFC combines with age to eliminate work. Also, find out about SSA’s Medical Vocational Guidelines.

HOW DOES THE SSA FIGURE OUT YOUR RFC IF YOU HAVE HEMOPHILIA?

In order to determine your RFC, the SSA first looks to the medical evidence in your case. That is why it is so important for the SSA to have all of your medical evidence. It is your “burden” or responsibility to provide all of your medical evidence to the SSA.

Typically, hiring a lawyer to help you do this is a wise choice. Learn about how to obtain your medical evidence for free.  If you do not have enough medical evidence for them to make a decision, then the SSA will arrange for your to have a doctor exam. Find out information about the free SSA doctor exam.

YOUR RFC IS BASED UPON YOUR OWN STATEMENTS

One of the other things the SSA considers when looking at your RFC is your own statements. They will read the forms you fill out for them. For example, when you apply you fill out forms about your past work. You also fill out forms during the appeals process about what you do during the day. If you have hemophilia, then you may need to avoid certain activities that may injure you. For example, you may need to avoid moving machinery, climbing ladders, or other activities that could result in injury at work.

You may even suffer from fatigue or severe anxiety due to hemophilia. If you have these problems, then you need to say so on your SSA forms. Your answers on these forms are often some of the most important statements you make. If you write on your Work History form that you lifted nothing on the job, then that is what the SSA assumes is correct. Likewise, if you state you have had no accommodations at work even though you have hemophilia, then the SSA will assume you do not need any special treatment on the job. They will also probably find that you can work.

HOW OUR LAW FIRM HELPS YOU WIN SSD BENEFITS 

You do not need to try to win SSD benefits on your own. Our law firm can help file your SSD application. Also, we can help you file an appeal after every SSA denial. That way, you can focus on your health. Our attorneys and staff can:

• Send you the paperwork you need to become our client
• Help you file your application for SSD and SSI benefits
• Inform the SSA they should pay your benefits under the Compassionate Allowance Rules
• Request an appeal if you receive a denial from DDS
• Help you confirm your attendance at your SSA doctor exam
• Request a Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
• Prepare you to be testify at your SSA hearing
• Represent you at your hearing and question the expert witnesses
• Read about vocational expert testimony
• Learn about medical expert testimony
• Request review of any decision with the Appeals Council
• Request review of an Appeals Council denial in Federal Court

If you file your application for benefits online at Social Security’s website, then you have 6 months to complete the application. However, if you have a medical condition that automatically wins SSD benefits, you should not wait to finish your application. Once you submit your application online, the SSA sends you an application summary in the mail. You must sign the summary and mail it back.

Additionally, once you receive a denial from the SSA, you have 60 days to file an appeal. You must meet the time limit set by the SSA. If you do not, then you will have to start the process over again. That means you will lose any benefits you could receive on any prior application.

WHAT IS THE SSDI BENEFIT FOR HEMOPHILIA? 

The monthly SSDI amount is different for everyone. However, the average SSDI monthly payment in 2022 is around $1,358. Some people may receive more than that, because during their working years they earned more money. About one in 10 people who receive Social Security benefits get more than $2,000 per month. People with spouses and children also receive more money. The SSA also pays SSDI benefits to those with a spouse and children. A person with a spouse and children can expect an average monthly payment of around $2,383 in SSDI benefits.

If your hemophilia is so severe that you cannot work, then you should file for SSDI benefits. The amount of money you receive will depend upon the money you have earned during your working years. You can apply for SSD benefits online at the Social Security’s website. Or, you can contact us and we will help you file your application for hemophilia benefits.

CONTACT US TODAY FOR HELP WITH YOUR HEMOPHILIA CASE

If you need help filing for SSI benefits, reach out to Cannon Disability Law. Also, if you need help finding free medical care, use the list of free and low cost medical resources on our website. Taking the first step, by calling us, is what you need to do to begin your journey to winning benefits. All you need to do is reach out to our legal team.

Our legal team wants to help you. We offer a free review of your case. What that means is that you can call us and explain your situation. At that point, we will look at the merits of your case for free and let you know if you have a chance to win benefits. We do not charge for our review of your case.

In the past 30 years, we have won millions of dollars in ongoing and past due due benefits for our clients. If you want to win benefits for hemophilia, then you need to hire an attorney with the experience to win your case. Also, you need a lawyer to prove to the SSA that you deserve SSDI and SSI benefits under their rules.

If you want to learn more about the lawyers and staff at our firm, then read our About Us page. For instance, Andria Summers can help you with your Medicare plan. She has also won thousands of SSD cases. Dianna Cannon has been helping clients win benefits for thirty years. Brett Bunkall also has years of legal experience helping people obtain their SSI and SSD benefits. We are experts. Our legal team has the experience you need to win your benefits for hemophilia. Contact us today.