Hypophosphatasia perinatal (lethal form) is a very rare condition that occurs as the fetus afflicted with the disorder develops in the mother’s womb. The condition is most commonly found in Canada, where it is thought that approximately one in every 25 individuals may carry the disease. Hypophosphatasia perinatal (lethal form) is also found in the United States, however, and it is in this nation where individuals who have children who have been born with the disorder may qualify for disability benefits. When a child is born with hypophosphatia perinatal (lethal form) it is common for one of the child’s parents to stop working in order to address the needs of the child. This can cause significant financial stress for the child’s families. Fortunately, disability benefits from the Social Security Administration may be able to help. If you have a child who has been born with hypophosphatasia perinatal (lethal form) the following information will help you understand how your child may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
Hypophosphatasia Perinatal (Lethal Form) Condition and Symptoms
There are six forms of hypophosphatasia including the perinatal (lethal form) type. The perinatal type is the most severe and may be diagnosed during pregnancy using ultrasound device and other medical procedures.
Hypophosphatasia is a rare and lethal condition. The disease is a metabolic bone disease that is characterized by low levels of serum and tissue alkaline phosphatase activities (or complete absence of these activities) which results in insufficient bone mineralization.
While the symptoms of the condition can vary from case to case, common symptoms of the perinatal form of the disease include caput membraneceum, lack of limb growth during fetal development and after birth and respiratory failure. Almost all children who are born with this form of the disease fail to thrive and die shortly after birth.
Hypophosphatasia is caused by a molecular defect in the gene encoding tissue TNSALP. In healthy individuals, TNSALP hydrolyzes a variety of substances including PPi and PLP (a form of vitamin B6). In individuals who have hypophosphatasia perinatal, the TNSALP is either low in levels or completely absent altogether. This results in an accumulation of PPi and a deficiency of vitamin B6.
The condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. This means that each parent of the child has a recessive copy of the defective gene and each parent passes that defective gene copy on to the child, who then has two defective copies of the gene.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Hypophosphatasia Perinatal (Lethal Form)
Although many of the children who are born with this disease die shortly after birth, some do manage to live longer. If your child has been diagnosed with this condition he or she may qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
The Compassionate Allowances guidelines were introduced due to the fact that it takes most disability applicants months or even years to be approved for disability benefits. In cases such as hypophosphatasia perinatal, it is evident that a parent cannot wait years or even just a few months to begin receiving benefits for their child. By qualifying under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances guidelines, the children who are diagnosed with this condition may be approved for benefits in a matter of weeks.
If you want your child to be approved for benefits under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines, it is crucial that you fill out the disability claim forms properly and provide as much medical evidence to the SSA as possible when submitting your form. The more information you provide, the more likely you will be to receive disability benefits without the need for an appeal.
Hypophosphatasia Perinatal (Lethal Form) and Your Social Security Disability Case
If you are applying for disability benefits for a child who has been diagnosed with hypophosphatasia perinatal, you may want to consult with a disability attorney prior to filing your claim. These lawyers work on a contingency basis and will help you ensure that your claim forms are filed properly and that the SSA receives sufficient objective medical evidence to support your disability claim.
If, for some reason, your initial claim is denied by the SSA, you will need to file an appeal. If this happens, you will want the help of an attorney during the appeal process. Compassionate Allowances appeals are given priority over standard appeals and are processed more quickly. You will want your attorney to ensure that your appeal is processed properly so that you can begin receiving benefits sooner rather than later under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
