Living with an autoimmune disease can be frustrating, partially because symptoms often do not follow a predictable pattern. Many autoimmune conditions involve periods of relative stability followed by painful and debilitating flare-ups. This ebb and flow can make it difficult not only to maintain employment but also to pursue Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
Autoimmune flares present a unique challenge in SSDI cases because the Social Security Administration is not primarily concerned with how a person feels on their best days or their worst ones. Instead, the agency must consider whether the condition prevents substantial gainful employment on a sustained basis. Unfortunately, applicants with fluctuating symptoms sometimes encounter skepticism because they may appear functional during medical appointments or isolated periods of improvement.
Evaluating the strength of an autoimmune claim
Conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and other autoimmune disorders can cause symptoms that vary dramatically from day to day. During a flare, a person may experience severe fatigue, joint pain, cognitive difficulties, muscle weakness, digestive issues or other symptoms that make work impossible. When the flare subsides, some of those symptoms may temporarily improve.
The challenge is demonstrating that recurring episodes are serious enough and frequent enough to interfere with consistent employment. Most jobs require workers to maintain regular attendance, meet productivity expectations and perform reliably throughout the workweek. A person who misses work repeatedly because of unpredictable flares may struggle to maintain employment even if they occasionally have good days.
Autoimmune diseases can be particularly difficult because symptoms are not always visible. Fatigue, pain and cognitive impairment may significantly limit a person’s ability to work even when outward signs of illness are not obvious.
When it comes to autoimmune diseases, disability claims often depend not on isolated good days but on the overall reality of living with an unpredictable and recurring medical condition. An experienced legal team can help autoimmune patients to evaluate their circumstances, gather evidence and submit the strongest possible claim given their unique situation.