Many symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease or IBD and related conditions may be managed with regular medications and lifestyle changes. However, in those cases in which symptoms are so severe that going to work seems impossible, Social Security disability benefits can help ease the financial stress.
You can recover Social Security disability benefits for inflammatory bowel disorder, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and other conditions that are related to IBD. The term “inflammatory bowel disease” refers to both Crohn’s disease as well as ulcerative colitis. In both these conditions, there is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract with symptoms that include pain, severe abdominal pain and rectal bleeding. The symptoms, in some cases, may be so severe that the person may require a visit to the restroom every few minutes. The constant loss of nutrients from the body may result in weight loss and fatigue.
If you have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, you may be eligible for disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program. A mere diagnosis of these conditions will not, however, be sufficient for you to qualify for benefits.
It is important that your condition result in certain symptoms that qualify you for benefits. Extreme weight loss, fatigue, or the formation of an obstruction or abscess in the bowel region may qualify you for Social Security disability benefits. If your pain is so severe that you require narcotic painkillers to manage your symptoms, you may also qualify for benefits.