Medical Conditions
and
Listing of Impairments
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A Disability Determination is by following a
five-step process:
1. Are you working?
2. Is your medical condition “severe”?
3. Does your impairment(s) meet or medically
equal a Listing?
4. Can you do the work you did before?
5. Can you do any other type of work?
SSA defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
SSA maintains a "Listing of Medical Impairments".
If your medical condition, or its equivalent is on SSA's Listing of Impairments then you're generally considered disabled and therefore eligible to receive SSA benefits. If your condition is not on the list, you may still be eligible under other SSA guidelines.
SSA determines whether someone can do the work they used to do – their “past relevant work.” or whether they can do any other work in the national economy, considering that person’s age, educational background, work experience and, of course, impairments.
Finally if SSA finds that they are not able to engage in other work as a result of their impairments, that person will be entitled to benefits, possibly including back benefits.
The SSA's Listing of Impairments is generally broken down by bodily system or function.
There are separate lists for ADULTS and CHILDREN
For ADULTS, the medical conditions that qualify for SSDI or SSI include:
Musculoskeletal problems, such as back conditions and other dysfunctions of the joints and bones
Senses and speech issues, such as vision and hearing loss
Respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis
Cardiovascular conditions, such as chronic heart failure or coronary artery disease
Digestive tract problems, such as liver disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy
Blood disorders, such as sickle cell disease or hemophilia
Mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism, or intellectual disability
Immune system disorders, such as HIV/AIDS, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and kidney disease
The SSA website has more information on
Adult or Children Listings
Here are some Physical and Mental conditions or symptoms that may be considered when qualifying for disability.
· Degenerative Disc Disease
· Bone and joint pain
· Lupus
· Osteoarthritis
· Rheumatoid arthritis
· Cancer
· Heart disease
· COPD
· Chronic Pain
· Chronic fatigue syndrome
· Diabetes
· Neuropathy
· Emphysema
· Multiple sclerosis
· Blindness
· Depression
· Bipolar Disorder
· Schizophrenia
· Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
· Anxiety Disorder
· Learning Disorder
· Personality Disorder
· ADHD
· Oppositional Defiant Disorder