This article is based on the transcript from this YouTube video:
My name is Melissa Yasinow and I’m a disability attorney at Balin Law. I’m here today to talk about scleroderma, which can be a disabling autoimmune condition.
Scleroderma can cause skin thickening and hardening, as well as inflammation and scarring throughout the body’s systems. Up to 300,000 Americans live with scleroderma, and if you are one of them, you may be entitled to disability benefits.
Disability benefits exist for people who can no longer work a typical work week because of their disability. Some people have only localized scleroderma, which affects the skin and underlying tissues. Others have systemic scleroderma, also known as systemic sclerosis, that can impact just about every major organ system, including the skin, blood vessels, digestive tract, lungs, kidney and heart.
Everyone’s scleroderma symptoms are different, but some common symptoms include:
- Raynaud’s Phenomenon where your fingers and toes go cold and turn, red, white, or blue
- Skin ulcers, especially on your fingers and toes
- Shortness of breath and dizziness
- Digestive problems such as acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, constipation and diarrhea
- Chronic pain, especially in your joints, nerves and muscles
- Chronic fatigue
- Brain fog
If you have scleroderma, you may meet or equal Social Security listing 14.04, which is for people with severe cases of systemic sclerosis. If you don’t meet or equal this listing, you still may qualify for disability benefits if you can show that you cannot perform the essential functions of your job or other work in the national economy.
Unfortunately, the hard truth is that most people who apply for disability benefits will be denied. At Balin Law, we have over 40 years representing and winning cases for people with chronic autoimmune conditions, including scleroderma. If you have been denied, appealed and been denied again, or you just want to avoid the headache from the start, give us a call.
At Balin Law, your consultation is free, and most clients never have to pay us a dime. In fact, the government pays us from back due benefits only if we win your case. The number one regret we hear from clients is that they didn’t ask for help sooner.
If you are interested in disability benefits for scleroderma, please contact Balin Law today for your free consultation. Remember, Balin Brings Benefits! And we are here to help.