Now what? Can you continue to work? How will the bills get paid if you can’t?
Your productive working life is not necessarily over because of your diagnosis. Even though an autoimmune disorder is chronic, many people do stay in the work force for years. The law guarantees you this right and the right to accommodations in your workplace. Here are a few examples of accommodations you can request:
- Retraining to new skills allowing you to continue working. For instance, if you originally stocked a warehouse, you could be retrained to do the paperwork in the same location.
- Asking for a work schedule that allows you to work at your best times of day and days of the week.
- Adapting your workspace to accommodate any special equipment you might need. Also, providing things like pencil sharpeners so you do not have to cross the room to use them, or locating your desk near the copy machine if you use it a lot.
Many people successfully continue to work for a long time with an autoimmune disease, but if you reach the point where you just can’t keep it up, you also have a right to apply for Social Security Administration disability benefits. You have been paying into the system through your W2 payroll taxes since you started working.
The attorneys at Keefe Disability Law can help you apply for disability. Just call us toll free at 888-904-6847 for a free consultation about your disability claim. And don’t forget to order our free report, Five Most Frequently Asked Questions About Social Security Disability. We want to help.