Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the stomach and intestines. Symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS can also cause stress and anxiety. IBS is a chronic condition, and some people suffer severe symptoms that make it difficult to work.
If you suffer from IBS and it interferes with your ability to work, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.
How do I prove my IBS is disabling?
IBS isn't currently included in the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) Listing of Impairments, but if you can prove that your symptoms are painful, disruptive, and distracting enough to keep you from working a full-time job, you might be able to get disability benefits.
To prove to Social Security that your IBS is severe enough to be disabling, your medical records need to show how your IBS symptoms interfere with your ability to work.
If you need to take frequent and unscheduled bathroom breaks, Social Security will consider this, as it limits the type of work you could do and could affect your ability to keep any job. It will help your claim if your doctor has recorded your need for frequent bathroom breaks in your treatment notes.
If you suffer from abdominal pain and cramps that make it hard for you to focus and maintain work pace, Social Security will consider this as it affects your ability to be productive at work. It is important for your doctor to record your symptoms and how IBS limits your ability to work or perform daily activities in your records.
When you file your application, you should include all your medical conditions that affect your ability to work, not just IBS. SSA will send you a function report to complete. You will explain how your IBS affects your ability to work. If pain makes it hard for you to sit, stand or walk, you need to explain that to SSA. If stress makes your symptoms worse, you need to explain that too. It is important to note how often you have symptoms, how long they last and what activities are affected. We ask our clients to keep a diary tracking their symptoms by date and how long they last.
How Social Security decides if you're disabled
Social Security will use your function report and your medical records to create a residual functional capacity (RFC) assessment for you. Your RFC shows what activities you can or cannot do.
Your RFC will include restrictions based on your physical symptoms of IBS and any other conditions you have, including depression or anxiety. An RFC for someone with severe IBS might include the following restrictions:
- requires frequent bathroom breaks
- requires a flexible start time to accommodate sudden symptoms
- can stand/walk for only two hours per day
- reduced productivity or need to take extra breaks due to pain, and
- requires a low-stress work environment
Social Security then looks to see if you can still do any of your past jobs with the RFC. If you can't do any of your past work, SSA will then determine if there are any other jobs that you can do with your current RFC.
How MCV Law can help:
The Social Security Disability application process is complex. Detailing your work history, compiling your medical records, understanding the SSA's standards, and proving the connection between your condition and your inability to work are just a few of the challenges that you will face as an applicant. A single mistake can compromise your right to benefits.
MCV Law can help. Our experienced Social Security Disability attorneys can provide the guidance you need to have your claim successfully approved. Our goal is for the SSA to award you the benefits you deserve, and you will not have to pay a fee to us until that goal is achieved. Connect with our team today to arrange a free initial consultation, so we can help you get your life back: