You have likely struggled with your eating disorder for several years, perhaps many years. An eating disorder can control many aspects of your life, making it difficult for you to function normally in society. Of course, your condition affects your health, and you may have experienced extended periods of time when you were unable to work due to ongoing treatment, hospitalization or other factors.
Being unable to earn a living is a complication few can manage for long before falling into financial trouble. Fortunately, the Social Security Association offers Social Security Disability Insurance for qualifying people with eligible conditions. One important qualification for receiving approval for SSDI is that doctors expect your medical condition to last for one year or more. The question is whether your eating disorder qualifies you for SSDI.
Finding an alternate way to seek benefits
To qualify for SSDI, your medical or mental condition must be on the list of impairments in the SSA manual. This is an extensive catalogue of ailments, but not all conditions are included. In fact, there are no eating disorders on the list. However, you have first-hand experience with the related health issues you have faced because of your eating disorder. Therefore, even if anorexia, bulimia or other conditions are not on the list, you may find you suffer from another qualifying issue, such as these:
- Chronic anemia
- Bradycardia and other types of arrhythmias
- Anemia
- Thyroid disfunction and other endocrine disorders
- Weight loss related to conditions in the digestive system
- Heart failure
Because obtaining SSDI benefits for an eating disorder involves a kind of back door path through one or more of these other conditions, thorough documentation of tests and treatment is essential for a successful claim. Because the SSA rejects so many first-time SSDI applications, your attention to the details required for each condition is essential. Your physician can assist you in compiling a narrative that will give you the best opportunity to obtain the benefits you need to carry you through while you are receiving treatment.
Another advocate for your cause is a legal professional, especially an attorney who is experienced in assisting clients in seeking the benefits they need. With compassionate support, you will have a higher chance of obtaining a first-time approval for SSDI and a representative to assist you if you need to appeal your case.
