Shingles As a Social Security Disability
Shingles is a painful rash caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. It usually occurs in people over the age of 50. People that develop shingles usually need some time off work to recover. This time will probably not be covered by Social Security disability.
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Is It a Social Security Disability?
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Social Security maintains a list of conditions that might be considered disabilities under their guidelines. Shingles is not on that list, but Social Security does sometimes approve a person for disability benefits if they can prove their condition is as disabling as another condition that is on the list.
Social Security and Skin Disorders
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Social Security generally approves disability benefits for skin disorders if they significantly interfere with the motion of a person’s joints, if they are on the palms of the hands and interfere with motor skills, or if they are on the soles of the feet and interfere with ambulation. Benefits may be approved for other reasons if they prevent someone from working.
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How Disabling Is Shingles?
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Shingles usually occurs on the trunk of the body, so it usually does not interfere with the movement of the joints or with a person’s ability to walk or use his hands. It is often very painful, though.
Prognosis
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Social Security only provides disability benefits when a person’s condition prevents him from working for at least one year or is expected to result in death. Shingles is not a terminal illness, and according to the Mayo Clinic most episodes of shingles resolve in just a few weeks.
Complications
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Complications of shingles include nerve damage (known as postherpetic neuralgia), facial paralysis, hearing problems, loss of vision (sometimes causes when shingles occur near the eyes), and balance problems. While shingles itself is not usually disabling, some of these complications may be.
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