Is inflammatory intestine disease (MII) a handicap?

Inflammatory intestine disease (MII), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, causes inflammation in the digestive tract. For some people, symptoms such as abdominal pain, frequent diarrhea and fatigue can make work impossible. In these cases, IBD can be considered a handicapAnd you can be eligible for financial support through social security.

For a state of health to be considered a handicap, it must be serious enough to prevent you from working and supporting you financially. It must also last at least 12 months or be fatal.

You can request two types of disability services through social security:

• Social security disability insurance (SSDI) is intended for people who have worked and paid social security.
• Additional security income (SSI) is intended for people with limited income or work history.

You can be eligible for one or both types of social security. The two programs use the same criteria to decide whether your condition is considered a handicap.

When is IBD considered a handicap?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers the inflammatory disease of the intestine if you meet one of the following three criteria:

1. You have had intestinal blockages

This includes situations where:

• Your little intestine or colon has become obstructed (blocked) due to the MII.
• Imaging or surgery reports confirm obstruction.
• You have been hospitalized twice for surgery or decompression (a procedure to relieve the pressure of the blockages).
• Each stay in hospital was at least 60 days apart and occurred within 12 months.

2. Your symptoms and laboratory results show continuous problems

You can qualify if you had at least two of the following elements within 12 months, in the case of 60 days intervals:

• Anemia with hemoglobin below 10.0 grams per decilitre (g / dl) on two separate blood tests
• Albumin levels 3.0 g / dl or lower (a sign of bad nutrition) on two separate blood tests
• Abdominal or cramp pain, your doctor capable of feeling a tender and inflamed mass in your abdomen
• Abscess (pus collections) or fistulas (abnormal tunnels which are formed between the intestine and other organs) which have been exhausted around your anus
• A daily additional nutrition through a power tube or a central line

3. You have repeated MII complications

This applies if you experience repeated MII complications, such as abscesses, infections or perforations, about three times a year or once every four months. Each episode must last at least two weeks and must limit your ability to make one of the following elements:

• Manage daily activities, such as cooking, cleaning or using public transport
• Maintain social interactions, such as communicating or getting along with others
• Finish work tasks due to the difficulty of concentration, pain or chronic fatigue caused by the Mii

Doctors use a tool called the IBD Disability Index (IBD-DI) to quantify how the Mii affects daily life. It is a short questionnaire that raises questions about things like pain, fatigue, the ability to work, the quality of sleep and emotional well-being. Your doctor can use this assessment to support your disability application and follow how your condition changes over time.

You can request online disability services, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in your local social security office. You will need to provide medical documentation proving how the MII prevents you from working. SSA generally requires files directly from your doctors, but the submission of all the documents you have can speed up the process.

Supporting documentation you will need includes:

• Medical records confirming your diagnosis of MII and the history of treatment
• Test results such as blood tests, imaging analyzes, endoscopy reports and biopsies
• Doctor’s declarations on your physical limitations
• Documentation on how MII has an impact on your daily routine and your professional performance
• Frequency frequency records, complications, severity of symptoms and side effects of drugs that have an impact on your ability to work

The request for disability services under SSA can be frustrating, especially if your first request is refused. The refusals are common, with only 1 of the disability requests out of 5 which are approved each year. Denials are often due to missing or incomplete medical documentation which clearly does not show how MIIIs have an impact on your ability to work and work daily.

You can make a call if your request is refused. Many people who were initially refused are approved after attractive. The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation has examples of letters of call to guide you, you and your health care provider. Consider working with a disability lawyer who includes MII cases because they can help you collect medical evidence and present your case more effectively.

MII symptoms can create challenges, whether you are trying to meet working times or follow the school. About 7 out of 10 people with MII may have trouble concentrating at work, and many need shorter work days to manage their symptoms. MII can affect work and school in several ways, including:

• Frequent absences: The missing work or courses can become inevitable with thrusts or if you need medical care, and these absences can compromise your position at work or get you late.
• Reduced productivity and concentration: Even when you are at work or in class, fatigue, pain and brain fog can make concentration difficult.
• Physical limits: Serious symptoms can prevent you from doing certain tasks or participating in activities, especially those requiring long periods without breaking.
• Limited growth opportunities: MII management often means unpredictable thrusts. This can limit your ability to assume additional responsibilities at work, continue promotions or get involved in extracurricular activities.
• Stress: Pressure to perform when managing a chronic disease can increase stress levels, which can worsen your symptoms.
• Access and privacy of the bathroom: The need for quick access to the toilet or emergency management can be disruptive in work and in school environments, especially if the installations are distant or if the ruptures are limited.
• Social challenges: You can avoid workplace events, study groups or school activities due to symptoms or fear of thrusts, which can negatively affect professional networking and academic relationships.
• Planning of flexibility needs: Certain work and school environments have trouble adapting to the flexibility you need when managing pushes or frequent medical meetings.

If you are not eligible for disability services under SSA or while you are waiting for a decision on your request, you can always be supported at work.

Under Title 1 of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), employers of 15 or more employees must provide reasonable accommodation to help you do your job. Reasonable accommodation is changes to your work environment, your calendar or your tasks that allow you to perform your essential work functions despite your condition. Your employer is required to make these changes as long as it does not cause significant difficulties or expenses to the company.

Here are some examples of Work -related arrangements you can request To help with the Mii:

• Flexible working hours or the ability to work at home during thrusts
• Access to private toilets or a workspace closer to bathrooms
• Modified tasks that reduce physical requirements or stress during difficult periods
• Additional breaks during the day to rest or use the bathroom
• A more comfortable workspace configuration, such as an ergonomic chair or a standing office
• Reallocation to a different role if your current tasks are too physically demanding
• Reduced travel requirements or advanced notice for business trips

Talk to your employer or the human resources service if you need accommodation in the workplace for the MII. It is often useful to put your request in writing and mention that you request reasonable accommodation under ADA. This can give you and your employer a chance to work together on the necessary adjustments to remain productive at work.

Pushes, fatigue and frequent needs of bathrooms can all be difficult when managing the campus and life. Article 504 of the 1973 ACT rehabilitation is a federal law which obliges schools to receive public funding to provide reasonable accommodation for disabled students, including those with MII.

Each school offers different types of accommodation. Here are some current school accommodation that may be available:

• Priority class recording so that you can build your schedule around your symptoms and medical appointments
• Class comrades note support when you cannot attend the course
• Flexible deactivates for assignments when the symptoms of the MII interfere with your ability to finish work in time
• Modified attendance policies so that you can compensate for missed courses without penalty
• Prolonged time on exams and bathroom breaks
• Special accommodation, such as single rooms or private bathrooms
• Accommodation, including modified meal plans
• Assistance in transporting the campus when fatigue makes walking between difficult courses

Inflammatory intestine disease (MII) can be considered a handicap, but you must meet the criteria set by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The disability request process can be long and discouraging, and many people are refused at the start. Staying persistent and attractive the denial can increase your chances of being approved. If you do not meet the disability criteria, you can ask for accommodation at work or at school to help you continue to earn a living or finish your studies.