Columbus Lupus Disability Lawyer

If you cannot work because of impairments related to a lupus diagnosis, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. A Columbus lupus disability lawyer from our team can explain your options and help you file your claim. If you already applied and were denied, we can file your appeal.

A Berger and Green lawyer handling  Social Security Disability claims can help you apply for disability benefits, handle your claim from start to finish, or step in after you receive a denial notice. We are here for you when you need us. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.

Our Lupus Disability Lawyers Benefit From 40+ Years of Experience

At Berger and Green, our firm has more than 40 years of experience fighting for and securing compensation for clients. We understand how important it is for you to receive approval for Social Security Disability benefits when your physical or mental illness makes it impossible to work.

Our attorneys can help you apply for lupus disability in Columbus, Ohio. We include the necessary information about your medical conditions, doctors, hospitalizations, and the correct contact information for your providers in your application. This is essential to your claim since this is how the SSA will get your medical records and other evidence to support your application. Our lawyers are here to serve you. 

Columbus Disability Lawyers Know How Disabling Lupus Can Be

Lupus can cause long-term, significant disabilities for some people. This condition affects many parts of the body, causing chronic pain, fatigue, and lasting organ damage. Some ways this autoimmune disease can prevent you from working and earning a living include: 

• Persistent inflammation that causes severe arthritis pain, limited mobility, and loss of dexterity
• Damage to the kidneys, heart, lungs, and other organs, some of which can cause life-threatening complications
• Extreme fatigue and debilitating exhaustion
• Cognitive concerns known as “lupus fog” may include memory loss and confusion
• Skin can be extremely photosensitive and prone to rashes
• Sensory and vision issues severe enough to interfere with daily activities
• Unpredictable symptom flare-ups require extended medical care and recovery time, sometimes necessitating hospitalization

For many with lupus, some or all these complications of the disease can make it difficult to manage tasks at work, work a full day, or go to work regularly. Documenting your condition and how it prevents you from working will be essential to getting your claim approved. You should talk to your doctor about your application because you will want to ensure your medical care is clearly outlined in your records.

Our Lupus Disability Attorneys Can Explain Eligibility for Benefits Based on Your Condition

To get approved for Social Security Disability benefits, you must provide evidence to show you meet the eligibility requirements. Simply put, you must prove that your condition is so severe that it keeps you from working. 

The Social Security Administration publishes a book of impairment listings, the Blue Book, that explains how they evaluate a long list of conditions. This book covers Systemic Lupus Erythematosus under Section 14.02.

According to this section, you might qualify if you have a confirmed lupus diagnosis with:

• At least two affected organs or body systems with one showing moderate to severe symptoms and two or more of the following: severe fatigue, fever, malaise, or involuntary weight loss; OR
• Severe, repeated symptoms that affect daily functioning, including fatigue, fever, chronic joint pain and swelling, cognitive dysfunction, skin lesions, or sensitivity

However, you could qualify for Social Security Disability without meeting the criteria in this listing. This could occur when your medical assessments show: 

• Your symptoms prevent you from performing your recent work or any other work you might qualify to perform
• You experience chronic pain, weakness, or cognitive dysfunction that prevents you from working regularly or a full day
• You experience frequent flares or require regular medical treatment that causes excessive absences from work

Our Columbus lupus disability attorneys know what a strong claim looks like. We can help you understand if you might meet the criteria for Social Security Disability benefits and file your application. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more. 

Berger and Green’s Columbus Disability Attorneys Can Evaluate Your Eligibility

The Social Security Administration offers two programs that provide benefits for those who cannot work because of disability. This includes Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). These two programs have the same medical qualifications but differ based on who qualifies and the income limits of each one. 

SSI is designed for those who cannot work, have little household income, and do not have many assets. You must meet strict income limits for this program. SSDI does not have income limits and requires you to have enough work credits to qualify. These are earned by working in qualifying employment and paying taxes. 

The Social Security Administration does set a limit for how much income you can earn from working to be considered disabled. In most cases, the substantial gainful activity limit for 2025 is set at $1,620 per month. If you earn more than this per month the Social Security Administration will most likely not approve your benefits. 

A Ohio Lupus Disability Attorney From Our Team Can Appeal Your Denial

At Berger and Green, our lawyers can step in and help you challenge a denial if the Social Security Administration refuses to approve your initial claim. This is common, and many people have denials overturned during the appeals process. 

We must navigate the four steps of the appeals process until we receive approval for your claim. Upon approval, you will receive benefits and backpay to the date you should have initially been approved. 

The key steps in the appeals process include: 

• Reconsideration: This step asks the team from Disability Determination Services to review your application again and ensure mistakes were not made when evaluating your qualifications.
• Administrative Law Judge Hearing: This step is often effective in getting denials overturned. An Administrative Law Judge will review the claim, medical records, and new evidence to determine if you meet the criteria for benefits.
• Appeals Council Review: If the judge denies your claim, you can request a review by the Social Security Appeals Council. They may decide the Judge’s decision was correct, return the case for another hearing, or overturn the decision.
• Federal Court Review: As a final option, you can file a lawsuit in a federal district court. This step takes the case outside the Social Security Administration and allows a federal judge to review the claim for legal or procedural errors.

Our lupus Social Security Disability lawyers serving Columbus, Ohio are here to help.

Discuss Your Lupus Disability Claim With Our Columbus, OH, Team

Berger and Green provide free consultations in Columbus, Ohio. We can discuss your options and explain how a Columbus lupus disability lawyer can help you apply for benefits or fight a denial. Call us now.