Disability Benefits Due to Immune Deficiency Disorders

Disorders of the immune system, excluding HIV infection – Overview

Immune deficiency illnesses are caused by the immune system failing to produce enough antibodies to fight disease and infection. Although there are numerous types of immune deficiency illnesses, they all fall into one of two categories. The first is acquired, while the second is primary.

Primary immune deficiency disorders are those that occur at birth and are frequently hereditary. Typically, disorders in this group are recognized and diagnosed during infancy or early childhood. There are approximately 100 recognized primary immune deficiency syndromes, albeit many are uncommon. The majority of these illnesses are caused by a deficiency of particular antibodies.

The following sections detail the various types of primary immune deficiency illnesses and their associated symptoms:

  • 1. Only males are affected by X-linked agammaglobulinemia, which causes infections of the ear, nose, throat, skin, and lungs.
  • 2. B lymphocyte deficiency manifests itself in a variety of ways and can result in bacterial infections throughout the body, as well as rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, and even cancer.
  • 3. Deficiencies in T lymphocytes result in susceptibility to viruses, fungi, and certain bacteria. Infections, on the other hand, are more serious and frequently fatal. DiGeorge syndrome is the most prevalent of these, with easily identifiable physical traits. It is caused by the absence of a thymus gland, which is primarily responsible for T lymphocyte development.
  • 4. Combined immunological deficits are caused by a deficiency of B and T lymphocytes. SCID is an example of a condition that manifests before the age of one and causes severe infections, diarrhea, and thrush, and usually culminates in death by the age of two without a bone marrow transplant.
  • 5. Innate immunity disorders damage phagoctyes, another component of the immune system, resulting in severe infections.
    The second category of immune deficiency disorders is called acquired, and as the term implies, they are not the result of birth but rather of environmental factors. These immune deficiency illnesses frequently occur as a side effect of specific medications that weaken or permanently impair the immune system, such as chemotherapy used to treat cancer. Immune insufficiency also arises when the spleen is removed, as it is a critical component of the immune system.

Additionally, infections such as chickenpox, lupus, mono, and tuberculosis can result in acquired immune deficiency disorders. Due to the possible severity of these diseases, children are immunized against them. Severe malnutrition has also been linked to acquired immune deficiency, a condition that is more prevalent in developing nations.

There are two extremely well-known forms of acquired immune deficiency:

  • 1. AIDS, which is caused by HIV infection, is a well-known killer that gradually weakens the entire immune system; victims are typically killed by uncommon and severe viral infections.
  • 2. SARS is a relatively new disease that first surfaced in China in 2003. It resulted in the death of 80 people who had respiratory difficulties and a fever. Since 2003, there has been no epidemic.
    Although immune deficiency illnesses present with a variety of symptoms, the most prevalent warning indications are uncommon diseases and conditions, as well as sickness and disease that do not improve. Blood testing may typically establish the presence of an immune deficiency condition.

Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits with a Diagnosis of an Immune Deficiency Disorder, excluding HIV Infection

Immune deficiency illnesses are included as qualifying impairments in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book. You may be eligible for Social Security benefits if you are handicapped as a result of an immune deficiency illness (SSDI). Children and certain adults with primary immune deficiency illnesses may otherwise qualify for SSI.

You must provide the SSA with adequate medical proof demonstrating your specific immune deficiency disease. To qualify for benefits, one of the three debilitating criteria listed below must be met:

  • 1. You must have one of the following severe diseases that is resistant to therapy or necessitates hospitalization more than three times a year – sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, septic arthritis, endocarditis, or sinusitis.
  • 2. You are now getting stem cell therapy. You are eligible for disability benefits for up to a year following the procedure. Following that, the SSA will decide whether the treatment was effective or whether you remain incapacitated.
  • 3. You must have sufficient proof of a recurrent immune deficiency disorder and two severe illness symptoms, as well as evidence that your condition interferes with your daily routine, social interactions, and/or ability to sustain employment.

Disability case regarding Immune Deficiency Disorder, Excluding HIV Infection

Your immune deficiency illness is more likely than many other disabilities to qualify you for disability payments, owing to the well-documented debilitation that results from a malfunctioning immune system. However, because qualifying for disability benefits can be challenging, it is a good idea to retain the services of a Social Security attorney to assist you in obtaining the benefits you require.