Ulcerative Colitis and SSDI Benefits in Maryland

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can be genuinely debilitating. Severe flares, persistent pain, unpredictable bowel urgency, and systemic complications can make sustained employment impossible. If you are living with ulcerative colitis in Maryland and are unable to work, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) may provide critical financial relief. Understanding how the Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates this condition is the first step toward a successful claim.

How the SSA Evaluates Ulcerative Colitis

The SSA maintains a medical reference guide known as the Blue Book (officially the Listing of Impairments), which identifies conditions severe enough to automatically qualify a claimant for disability benefits. Ulcerative colitis falls under Listing 5.06 — Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

To meet this listing, your medical records must document IBD with at least one of the following:

• Obstruction of the small intestine or colon requiring hospitalization at least twice in a six-month period, at least 60 days apart
• Two or more of the following, despite continuing treatment: anemia with hemoglobin below 10.0 g/dL, serum albumin below 3.0 g/dL, clinically documented tender abdominal mass, perineal disease with abscess or fistula, involuntary weight loss of at least 10 percent from baseline, or need for supplemental daily nutrition via a feeding tube or parenteral infusion

Meeting a Blue Book listing is the most direct path to approval, but many claimants with ulcerative colitis do not satisfy these specific thresholds. That does not mean the case is lost — it means the analysis moves to a different framework.

Qualifying Through a Residual Functional Capacity Assessment

If your ulcerative colitis does not meet Listing 5.06 precisely, the SSA will assess your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) — an evaluation of what work-related activities you can still perform despite your limitations. A well-documented RFC can be just as powerful as meeting a Blue Book listing.

For ulcerative colitis claimants, the RFC analysis should capture the full impact of the disease on your functional capacity, including:

• Bathroom access requirements: Frequent, urgent trips to the restroom throughout the workday can make most sedentary and light-duty jobs impractical. SSA adjudicators and vocational experts recognize that most employers will not tolerate more than one unscheduled break per hour.
• Abdominal pain and cramping: Chronic pain can reduce concentration, pace, and persistence, all of which affect the ability to sustain an eight-hour workday.
• Fatigue and anemia: Many UC patients develop anemia from chronic blood loss, causing profound fatigue that limits standing, walking, and sustained activity.
• Medication side effects: Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine, biologics like infliximab, and corticosteroids can cause cognitive dulling, infection susceptibility, and other functional limitations.
• Extraintestinal manifestations: UC frequently causes joint inflammation, skin conditions, and eye disorders that compound physical limitations.

If the RFC evidence shows you cannot perform your past work and cannot adjust to any other work in the national economy given your age, education, and work history, the SSA must approve your claim.

Maryland-Specific Considerations for UC Claimants

Maryland SSDI claims are initially processed through the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office in Baltimore. Maryland follows federal SSA guidelines, but there are practical considerations that affect how claims proceed in this jurisdiction.

If your initial application is denied — which happens to the majority of first-time filers nationally — you have 60 days to request reconsideration. A second denial triggers the right to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Hearings for Maryland claimants are typically scheduled through the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) in Baltimore or Towson, though remote video hearings have become increasingly common.

Maryland has several major academic medical centers — Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland Medical System, and MedStar — where gastroenterologists and colorectal specialists generate detailed clinical records. These records are invaluable to a UC disability claim. Consistent treatment documentation from a specialist, rather than only a primary care physician, carries significant weight with SSA adjudicators.

Maryland also has a relatively active claimant population, which means ALJ hearing wait times can extend to a year or longer. Filing accurately and completely from the start reduces unnecessary delays caused by requests for additional evidence.

Building a Strong SSDI Claim for Ulcerative Colitis

The strength of an SSDI claim depends heavily on the quality and completeness of medical evidence. Claimants with ulcerative colitis should focus on the following strategies:

• Maintain regular gastroenterology appointments: Gaps in treatment give the SSA grounds to argue your condition is not as severe as claimed or that you are not following prescribed therapy.
• Document every symptom and flare in writing: Keep a daily symptom journal. Objective records of bathroom frequency, pain levels, diet restrictions, and activity limitations provide concrete evidence for the RFC assessment.
• Request a Medical Source Statement from your physician: This is a formal opinion from your treating gastroenterologist about your specific functional limitations. A detailed, signed statement from a specialist who has treated you over time is among the most persuasive evidence in the SSA record.
• Report all hospitalizations and emergency visits: Hospital records documenting acute flares, dehydration, blood transfusions, or surgical interventions directly support the severity of your condition under Listing 5.06 and in the RFC analysis.
• Disclose all coexisting conditions: Depression and anxiety are common among those with chronic IBD and can bolster the overall disability picture, particularly when evaluating your ability to handle workplace stress and maintain regular attendance.

Common Reasons UC Claims Are Denied and How to Respond

The SSA denies many legitimate ulcerative colitis claims at the initial level for several predictable reasons. Understanding these pitfalls allows you to address them proactively.

Insufficient medical evidence is the leading cause of denial. The SSA cannot approve what it cannot verify. If your treating physicians have not documented the frequency and severity of your symptoms, the record will not support your subjective account of your limitations.

Failure to follow prescribed treatment is another common basis for denial. If you have stopped taking medications or missed specialist appointments, the SSA may conclude your condition is not as unmanageable as alleged. If treatment was interrupted due to cost, insurance issues, or medication intolerability, those reasons should be documented explicitly in the record.

Inconsistency between daily activities and alleged limitations can undermine credibility. If your Function Report or testimony describes activities inconsistent with your reported symptoms, adjudicators will take note. Be accurate and thorough when describing what you can and cannot do on your worst days, not just your best.

An experienced SSDI attorney can review your existing record, identify gaps, coordinate with your medical providers, and present your RFC evidence in the most compelling way possible before a Maryland ALJ.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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