Can I qualify for Social Security if I have tuberous sclerosis?

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) causes the spontaneous growth of benign tumors throughout the body. Although the condition is rare, the resulting tumors in the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, and eyes can significantly affect a patient’s health and functional abilities.

Qualifying for Social Security Benefits for Tuberous Sclerosis

The Social Security Administration (SSA) doesn't have a dedicated disability listing for tuberous sclerosis. However, patients suffering from debilitating symptoms of their tuberous sclerosis may still qualify for benefit payments.

The main determining factors for compensation include:

• Symptoms. The symptoms each person experiences depend on the location of the tumors and the effects of the growths. Patients can suffer impaired kidney function, wheezing and breathing problems due to growths in the lungs, and seizures due to brain lesions. Claimants will have to provide evidence of the frequency and severity of their symptoms, and how they affect the ability to perform effective work.
• Diagnosis. Tuberous sclerosis is usually diagnosed through medical imaging tests, such as CT scans of the brain or an echocardiogram of the heart. A TSC patient has to provide medical documentation of the illness, as well as a prognosis from his or her doctor explaining limitations and likely outcome of the condition.
• Treatment. There isn't a cure for tuberous sclerosis, but patients can be treated for TSC with anti-seizure medications or surgical removal of tumors. However, response to treatment varies for each individual, and medical intervention can cause side effects that further prohibit someone's ability to work.
• Dependent symptoms. Tuberous sclerosis is typically diagnosed in childhood, and parents can claim Social Security benefits for a dependent with TSC. Your child may be eligible for disability benefits if he or she has suffered developmental delays, behavioral or learning complications, communication problems, difficulty with social interaction, or diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.

If you think you may be eligible for Social Security disability for yourself or your dependent, we can help. Call us today or fill out the form on this page to set up your consultation with a Social Security attorney.