Financially Surviving End Stage Renal Disease
The process for receiving Social Security disability can be a long and arduous one that often requires legal help. If you suffer from renal failure, you need to explore your disability options before you reach end stage status. Beginning now will reduce your financial and emotional stress while you are undergoing dialysis.
End Stage Renal Disease
If you suffer from chronic kidney disease, you know that after ten to twenty years, you are likely to develop end-stage renal disease, or ESRD. When your kidneys reach 10 - 15% functionality, you will be reliant on dialysis to cleanse your body of extra water, salt, and waste. Since this process is often done three times a week or more, you will not be able to hold down a regular job until you have received a kidney transplant. You will need government benefits to survive.
Benefits
If you have ESRD, you are eligible for Medicare, no matter your age as long as you have met the requirements of work time for Social Security, as an employee for the government, or for the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). You can also receive Medicare if you are already getting Social Security or RRB benefits or you are the dependent child or spouse of someone who meets the requirements.
With ESRD, you are also eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. In fact, you will experience less difficulty in claiming your benefits than people suffering from other medical conditions. To increase your chances of being accepted on your first application, you should hire a lawyer who is well-versed in disability law. Those suffering from kidney failure are unable to do any physical labor. Sedentary jobs are impossible to perform due to the near constant demands of dialysis. If your paperwork is in order, you could receive your disability benefits in weeks instead of the months or sometimes years that other disability claims take. Consulting a lawyer before you reach total kidney failure will help ensure you get the financial help you need as soon as possible.
End-stage renal failure is a devastating condition that requires expensive and consistent treatment. If you do qualify for a transplant, you will still be considered disabled for a year afterward. You will need both your Medicare and disability benefits to financially survive a difficult time. Consulting a law firm like Law Offices Of Russell J. Goldsmith can smooth your path toward being accepted to the program and receiving the money you must have to pay the bills.