In the case of a 36-year-old claimant with a complex medical history including kidney failure, lupus, degenerative disc disease, neuropathy, depression and anxiety, the alleged onset date (AOD) was June 11, 2022, when she ceased working due to progressive kidney failure.
Although the claimant met the criteria for Listing 6.03 (SSA has specific criteria for certain medical impairments, and if a claimant meets the criteria, they are automatically eligible for disability from the date they meet the rules.) as of April 1, 2024—when she began dialysis and would have been deemed automatically disabled, we argued that her condition had significantly impaired her ability to work as of June 11, 2022.
The claimant experienced ongoing pain, fatigue, dysuria and depression that disrupted her work performance, making her off-task for at least 20% of the workday. As a result, we successfully established her disability back to June 11, 2022, rather than April 1, 2024, ensuring she received benefits from the earlier date.
