SMALL INTESTINE TRANSPLANT & SSD BENEFITS
SMALL INTESTINE TRANSPLANT AND DISABILITY BENEFITS
Many people do not know that the Social Security Administration (SSA) includes small intestine transplant in its Blue Book list of medical conditions.
If you have had a small intestine transplant, then the SSA will automatically consider you disabled for one year after surgery. After that first year, SSA looks at your medical record to see if your condition still limits you. Winning benefits depends on how severe your symptoms and complications are, and whether you can still work full-time.
This article explains why someone would need a small intestine transplant, what symptoms lead up to it, how treatment works before and after surgery, how Listing 5.11 works, how to win benefits using residual functional capacity (RFC), and why hiring an experienced disability attorney can make all the difference.
WHY YOU WOULD NEED A SMALL INTESTINE TRANSPLANT
A small intestine transplant is major surgery. It is only done when the small intestine no longer works well enough to keep you alive or healthy.
The small intestine is the part of the digestive tract that absorbs nutrients and fluids. When it fails, the body cannot get enough food or water, even with medical treatment. This failure leads to malnutrition and life threatening issues.
The most common reason people need this surgery is short bowel syndrome. This happens when a large part of the intestine is removed because of disease or injury. Other causes for removal of the small intestine include Crohn’s disease, congenital defects, tumors, or scarring from repeated surgeries.
When the remaining intestine cannot absorb enough nutrients, doctors may try to help with IV nutrition. Over time, however, this can cause serious liver and infection problems. At that point, a small intestine transplant becomes the only way to survive.
SYMPTOMS THAT SHOW YOU MAY NEED A TRANSPLANT
When your small intestine stops working, your body shows clear signs. One of the first symptoms is chronic diarrhea. You may have constant watery or greasy stools that cause weight loss.
People often feel tired all the time because their bodies cannot absorb nutrients. They lose muscle, develop vitamin deficiencies, and get sick easily.
Many people also depend on nutrition through a central IV line. This can cause blood infections, blood clots, and liver damage. Repeated infections and hospital stays often show that the intestine can no longer support the body.
These symptoms make it almost impossible to work or take care of daily needs. If your medical team recommends a transplant, then that means your condition is already severe enough to affect your ability to earn income.
It is important to show the SSA how these symptoms prevent you from working. Detailed progress notes from your doctor, hospital records, and nutrition reports are vital evidence in your case.
TREATMENT BEFORE AND AFTER YOUR SMALL INTESTINE TRANSPLANT
Doctors do not rush to perform a small intestine transplant. Before surgery, patients try every possible treatment to save their intestine. This includes nutrition plans, IV feeding, bowel rehab, and medication to help the intestine absorb nutrients.
Patients often have frequent hospital stays to fix dehydration or infections. These treatments can go on for years. Unfortunately, they do not always work. When a patient cannot live without IV nutrition or develops serious symptoms, a transplant becomes the last option.
After a transplant, the body must learn to accept the new organ. Patients take special drugs to stop rejection. These drugs can cause side effects like infection, fatigue, and kidney or liver problems.
During the first year, recovery is intense. You may need to visit the hospital or clinic many times a month for tests. It is common to have rejection episodes or infections. This first year is when SSA automatically considers you disabled under Listing 5.11.
Even after a successful transplant, many people continue to have problems. You may have lasting weakness, trouble eating normally, or side effects from medications. Some patients continue to lose weight or have poor energy levels. These problems can keep you from returning to work even years later.
HOW TO MEET LISTING 5.11 IN SSA’S BLUE BOOK
The SSA Blue Book lists serious medical conditions that automatically qualify for disability benefits. Listing 5.11 covers small intestine transplant.
The rule is simple: if you have had a small intestine transplant, SSA considers you disabled for one full year from the date of surgery. You do not have to prove anything else during that time. The law assumes that anyone recovering from such a major transplant cannot work full-time.
After that first year, SSA will review your medical record to see how you are doing. If you still have serious symptoms, then the SSA can continue your benefits. But if your health has improved and you can return to work, then they will stop your payments.
To keep your benefits after the one year period, you need strong medical evidence. That evidence should show that your problems after the transplant still make it impossible to work.
Examples include continued weight loss, rejection episodes, severe fatigue, frequent hospital stays, or side effects from medications that make work unsafe. Your medical records can prove your ongoing limitations.
This listing provides protection for transplant patients. It ensures that you have at least one year to recover without the fear of losing your benefits. However, your attorney must carefully document your ongoing symptoms to keep your benefits beyond that point.
WINNING BENEFITS WITH YOUR RESIDUAL FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY (RFC)
After the one year listing period ends, your benefits can continue by using your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) to prove you cannot work. RFC means what you are still able to do despite your health problems.
SSA looks at whether you can work full-time on a regular basis. They consider how long you can stand, sit, or walk, how much you can lift, and whether your symptoms cause you to miss work.
For people with a small intestine transplant, RFC often shows major limits. Many have chronic fatigue, pain, and weakness. You might need frequent rest breaks or bathroom access. You may also need to avoid lifting heavy objects, exposure to infection, or long hours.
The medications you take after transplant can also affect your RFC. Immunosuppressant drugs weaken the immune system and can make you prone to infection. Steroids can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, and mood changes. These side effects can interfere with steady work attendance.
SSA also looks at how often you are in the hospital or need medical appointments. If you miss work regularly due to treatment, then that supports your case.
Your medical records should clearly show these ongoing problems. A supportive letter from your transplant doctor can be powerful evidence. It should explain why you cannot maintain a regular work schedule and how your symptoms affect your daily activities.
An experienced disability lawyer knows how to translate your medical facts into functional limits that fit SSA’s rules. This step often makes the difference between winning and losing your claim after the first year.
WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE AN SSD ATTORNEY
Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) after a small intestine transplant can cause a lot of stress. The rules are detailed and the paperwork is hard to understand.
A disability attorney knows exactly how to handle transplant cases. Your lawyer will collect medical records, hospital reports, and test results. They will make sure your surgery and future doctor visits are part of the evidence in your case.
Attorneys also help fill out SSA forms correctly, write legal arguments, and prepare you for your hearing. A skilled attorney can also talk with your doctors to get helpful medical statements.
Disability attorneys understand how the SSA applies Listing 5.11 and how to build an RFC argument after the one year period ends. They know what kind of evidence SSA looks for—how many hospital visits you have, how your medication affects you, and whether you can keep up a regular work routine.
Having a lawyer also means you do not have to face SSA alone. If your first claim is denied, your attorney can appeal. Most people who win benefits do so at the hearing stage, not the first application. In fact, almost 90% of claims are denied by the SSA at the initial and appeal level. Hiring a lawyer greatly increases your chance of success.
You do not pay an attorney up front. They are paid only if you win your case. The fee is set by law and comes from your back benefits, not your future checks. Hiring an attorney is one of the best decisions you can make if you are seeking benefits after a small intestine transplant.
LIVING WITH A SMALL INTESTINE TRANSPLANT AND YOUR RIGHT TO BENEFITS
Living after a small intestine transplant is not easy. Even with good medical care, you may struggle with fatigue, pain, and strict diet rules. You might still have to visit the hospital often.
It is important to know that SSA rules recognize how serious this surgery is. Listing 5.11 was written to protect people who undergo small intestine transplants. The law assumes you cannot work for at least one year after surgery.
After that, SSA looks at the whole picture. If your health problems still prevent you from working, you may continue to qualify for SSDI or SSI benefits. The key is good medical records that document your symptoms and hiring an SSD law firm with decades of experience.
Do not give up if your claim is denied the first time. Many people win on appeal. The most important thing is to have complete medical records and an attorney who understands SSA’s rules and regulations.
THE ROLE OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE IN YOUR CLAIM
Your medical records are the foundation of your case. SSA will not just take your word for it—you need solid proof of your condition.
This includes the hospital discharge summary from your transplant, biopsy results, and clinic notes from your transplant center. Also include any lab results showing rejection episodes, infections, or poor nutrition.
Your doctors should also describe your physical limitations in detail. They can complete medical source statements or RFC forms that list your restrictions. These statements can help prove you cannot sustain work.
If you have been in the hospital multiple times since your transplant, keep all those records. SSA gives the most weight to evidence from treating experts. They will give weight to your transplant surgeons and your treating doctor. Regular visits with your medical team and updated records make your claim stronger.
SUMMARY OF HOW TO WIN SSD BENEFITS
If you have had a small intestine transplant, then you are automatically considered disabled for one year under Listing 5.11. However, you must still apply for the benefits. The SSA does not keep track of who has had a small intestine transplant. You can only be paid benefits if you first file an application. You can file an application on the Social Security website. After that, SSA reviews your ongoing symptoms to decide whether your disability continues.
To keep your benefits, you need to show that your symptoms, such as fatigue, infections, or other side effects, prevent you from keeping a job. SSA evaluates this through your RFC.
Gather every medical record, test result, and hospital summary you can. Get letters from your doctors that explain why you cannot work. If SSA denies your claim, then file an appeal within 60 days.
Finally, work with an experienced Social Security Disability attorney who knows how to handle transplant cases. They can prepare your case, represent you before the judge, and fight for your rights.
HIRE THE BEST SSD LAW FIRM TO HELP YOU WIN BENEFITS
A small intestine transplant is one of the most serious medical procedures a person can face. The recovery is long and medical issues from the surgery can last for years.
If you have had a transplant, then you need time to heal and financial support to live. Social Security Disability benefits exist for exactly that reason. Listing 5.11 automatically recognizes your disability for one year. After that, you can still qualify for benefits if you show ongoing medical problems that stop you from working.
The process is complex, but you do not have to do it alone. With medical evidence and the help of an experienced disability lawyer, you can win the benefits you deserve.
We offer a free review of your SSD case. Additionally, we will evaluate your case to determine the best path forward. Whether you are just starting your application or need to appeal a denial, we are here to help. We don’t get paid unless you win SSD benefits, so there’s no risk in calling us.
Living with chronic pain is hard enough. You don’t have to fight the SSA alone. We can help you secure the benefits you need to move forward with your life. We are the best SSD law firm you can hire. Our team has won over 20,000 SSDI and SSI cases. Let us put our legal experience to work for you.
