Health

What Conditions Count as Disabilities for Social Security Benefits?

Many people who require the help of social security benefits for disabilities are not claiming what they should be claiming as they don’t know how to do it or whether their disability qualifies them for additional help. With the help of an expert social security lawyer, you can get the help and advice that you need to make navigating the Social Security Administration and the application forms as easy as possible.

The Social Security Administration has a blue book that carries a “Listing of Medical Impairments” that details all of the disabilities that automatically qualify for social security disability insurance or supplemental security income. 

Certain conditions must be met to qualify for these payments, and if your medical condition is on the blue book list of impairments, then you are considered to be eligible for SSA disability benefits. If you have a medical condition that impairs your daily life but it’s not currently listed on the impairments list, that doesn’t mean that you get nothing. It means that you may still be eligible for payments under other guidelines.

The Listing of Impairments

This is known as the blue book and it’s broken down into categories by bodily system or function. There are different lists for adults and children. Some of the medical conditions included for adults include:

  • Conditions of the joints and bones, including back conditions
  • Vision and hearing losses
  • Asthma and cystic fibrosis
  • Heart conditions like coronary artery disease
  • Liver disease and IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)
  • Brain disorders including Parkinson’s and epilepsy
  • Sickle cell disease and other blood disorders
  • Depression, anxiety, intellectual disabilities and other mental disorders
  • Lupus, HIV/AIDS

The list is more in-depth, but this touches on some of the adult conditions considered for SSA payments.

For children, the list is almost exactly the same but growth impairment is also covered for children.

My Condition Isn’t on the List. What Do I Do?

If you find that your condition is not listed on the blue book list, you can still qualify! Speaking to a social security lawyer will help you here! 

Certain criteria must be met first, and the condition has to be medically confirmed by a specialist. It also has to limit your ability to function day to day, enough that you cannot work or you need help at home. Any claims have to be backed by clinical reports, and a disability claims examiner will dive deeply into your claim to determine its relevance.

What Medical Evidence Is Required?

Medical evidence is a necessity for a SSA benefits claim, and you can include:

  • Examination reports from your physician
  • Notes and treatment letters
  • MRI scans
  • CAT scans
  • XRay
  • All mental health records
  • Evidence of blood work

Evidence has to be recently dated and the more you have, the better. It should cover you the entire time period from when you became disabled to the date of your claim, and the condition has to be severe enough to prevent you from being able to work safely.