This post discusses SSA Disability Benefits for skin disorders. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a disabling skin disorder, read on for how the SSA will evaluate your disability claim.
The Bishop Law Firm has represented Social Security Disability clients since 2009, and we do not get paid unless you win. Call us today for your free case review or start online now!
What is Social Security Disability?
The Social Security Administration offers Social Security Disability benefits for those who are no longer able to work due to their health.
Social Security generally offers two types of benefits for people with disabilities: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
SSDI is based on the credits from the work you have done in your life, while SSI is a need-based program.
SSA's Five-Step Sequential Evaluation
Before you are entitled to either benefit, you must be found disabled under Social Security's Five Step Sequential Evaluation:
- Step 1 – Are You Working? The Social Security Administration defines work as “Substantial Gainful Activity” (SGA). SGA is roughly defined as work from earnings that average more than $1,620 per month (as of 2025). If you can perform substantial gainful activity, you generally will not qualify for disability benefits.
- Step 2 – Is Your Condition “Severe”? Severity is key when determining what qualifies as a disability. Severe is defined by the Social Security Administration as: your condition must interfere with basic work-related activities for your claim to be considered.
- Step 3 – Is Your Condition on the List of Disabling Conditions? The Listings are very hard to meet in most cases, and not always interpreted as a shared reading would suggest. If you meet a listing, you are gravely ill. The listings are found here.
- Step 4 – Can You Do the Work You Did Previously? The Social Security Administration will look at your work history and determine if it was sedentary, light, medium, or heavy. They will also evaluate the skill level: unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled. For instance, an attorney would be sedentary skilled work. The Dictionary of Occupational Titles is found here.
- Step 5 – Can You Do Any Other Type of Work? If the Social Security Administration determines that you can no longer perform your previous duties, they then assess whether you can still perform other tasks. This is where the “grids” come into play. The grids are the Medical-Vocational Guidelines. The grids are only for exertional impairments. The grids do not consider non-exertional impairments. If you are found to be capable of any other work, you will be found not disabled. Read The Grids and Your Social Security Disability Case.
The first (and most important) step in attaining Social Security Disability benefits is to apply online or by calling your local Social Security Office.
Can you get disability for skin conditions?
Yes, you can get disability for skin conditions; however, the severity of your skin condition is key.
Skin disorders can range from a mild nuisance to severely disabling.
Having a skin disorder alone is not enough to qualify you for disability benefits: what matters is the severity and effect your skin disorder has on your life.
Some examples of disabling skin disorders that I have seen in my practice are Epidermolysis bullosa, burns, hidradenitis suppurativa, chronic infections caused by autoimmune disorders, and even psoriasis.
How does SSA evaluate skin disorders?
The Social Security Administration has a listing specifically for Skin Disorders, 8.00.
These listings, like most listings, are challenging to meet. If you meet one of these criteria, working has been out of the question for quite a while.
The beginning of this listing describes what medical evidence is needed (laboratory findings, blood tests, biopsy results) and how severity is determined.
Extensive lesions, frequency of flare-ups, symptoms, pain, exposure to toxins, and treatment are all considerations.
In addition, if your skin disorder is the result of some other impairment, you will be evaluated under that body system first. (For example, if you have been assessed with an autoimmune disorder and have a resulting skin disorder, you will be evaluated under 14.00 Immune System Disorders (first).
In addition to the listings discussed below, SSA can evaluate a skin disorder based on the combination of your impairments.
8.07: Genetic Photosensitivity Disorders
Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is an inherited condition that causes extreme sensitivity to sunlight and other forms of artificial lighting.
The extreme sensitivity results in an increased risk of cancer, premature aging, and problems with the nervous system (Via Medline).
To meet listing 8.07a, a claimant must have a confirmed diagnosis of Xeroderma pigmentosum.
For other genetic photosensitivity disorders (Cocksane syndrome, trichothiodystrophy, Bloom Syndrome, Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome, Cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal syndrome, and Hartnup Disease), a claimant must show:
- Chronic Skin Lesions or contractures that cause an inability to function outside of a highly protective environment, OR
- Chronic Skin Lesions or contractures causing chronic pain that result in a,b,c, or d
- a. inability to use both upper extremities or
- inability to use one upper extremity with the need for an assistive device in the other UE
- c. inability to stand from a seated position,...affecting at least two extremities or
- d. inability to maintain an upright position, affecting both lower extremities
8.08: Burns
Burns (in the medical world) are classified by degrees ( 1st - 4th) and by how much of the body's surface is affected.
A burn victim can have excruciating pain, itching, and burning long before they meet Listing 8.08.
To meet Listing 8.08, your burns must no longer need surgical management and result in chronic skin lesions that result in the:
- a. inability to use both upper extremities or
- b. inability to use one upper extremity with the need for an assistive device in the other UE or
- c. inability to stand from a seated position,...affecting at least two extremities or
- d. inability to maintain an upright position, affecting both lower extremities
8.09: Chronic Conditions of the skin or mucous membranes
In the past, Social Security had specific listings for Epidermolysis bullosa, psoriasis, and hidradenitis suppurative, but now all these conditions are evaluated under 8.09.
Listing 8.09 requires chronic skin lesions that persist despite following prescribed treatment for three months, AND with B (1, 2, 3, or 4):
- . inability to use both upper extremities or
- inability to use one upper extremity with the need for an assistive device in the other UE, or
- inability to stand from a seated position...affecting at least two extremities or
- inability to maintain an upright position..... affecting both lower extremities
Epidermolysis bullosa
Epidermolysis bullosa is a group of skin conditions whose hallmark is blistering in response to minor injury, heat, or friction from rubbing, scratching, or adhesive tape, according to The Mayo Clinic.
During a severe flare, the mildest skin irritation can cause severe blistering. Other symptoms I have seen are loss of fingernails, toenails, and severe itching during the healing process, with possibly serious infection. You can have lesions from EB on the inside of your body as well.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is the most common autoimmune disorder in the U.S. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.
As the new growth of skin cells moves to the surface of the skin, thick, itchy, and tender patches appear, called plaque. Found here.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Hidradenitis Suppurativa or Acne Inversa is a skin condition that causes small painful lesions under the skin in places where the skin rubs together (armpits, thighs, groin, and anus - apocrine or sweat glands ). Also read our post on Hidradenitis suppurativa.
Do you need a Social Security Disability Attorney?
A Social Security Disability Lawyer can help you demonstrate to the Social Security Administration how your skin disorder prevents you from working.
Simply having a skin disorder does not automatically make you disabled. But if your skin disorder is severe, your Social Security Disability claim can be approved if you provide the correct documentation to SSA.
If your skin disorder has progressed to the point that you are unable to work, apply for Social Security Disability as soon as possible and call the Bishop Law Firm.
We offer free case reviews, and we do not get paid unless you win. Call us today or start online now!
Also, read our post Social Security Disability Conditions.
