Learn about the conditions that qualify you for disability. Additionally, a disability lawyer can assist you in proving your impairment meets the government’s eligibility requirements. Not every illness or level of disability qualifies. The SSA applies to a multi-part test. If you currently work, SSA will look at how much money you make and the severity of your disability. Its primary concern is whether you are or are not capable of substantial gainful activity. We serve clients nationwide, and our goal is to help you get the benefits you may be entitled to.
Conditions That May Entitle You to Benefits
Your lawyer for social security is well-versed in the complexity of the SSA’s two lists of conditions.
These are sometimes called the Blue Book conditions, a reference to their online publication. The lists contain diseases and disorders that may be a basis for a disability claim. These lists are known as Part A and Part B Listings of Impairments. Part A impairments apply to adults, and some may apply to children.
Part A conditions include:
- Skin diseases
- Cancer
- Mental disorders
- Endocrine diseases
- Respiratory diseases
- Neurological disorders
- Genitourinary disorders
- Hematological disorders
- Special senses and speech
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Multiple system congenital disorders
- Severe cardiovascular system disease
- Digestive, gastro-intestinal, and liver disease
Part B applies to children, including a range of illnesses similar to Part A. However, Part B also includes special impairments that affect only children, such as congenital disorders, failure to thrive, and low birth weight. To claim disability based on a listed impairment, your legal team must prove that you have an illness and cannot work.
The SSA recognizes many illnesses for a disability claim, including:
- Epilepsy
- Liver disease
- Cerebral palsy
- Bipolar disorder
- Thyroid disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Depressive disorder
- Traumatic brain injury
- Inflammatory arthritis
Compassionate allowance permits a small set of acute medical conditions such as Ewing Sarcoma and Thyroid Cancer as a basis for disability on an accelerated basis.
What Does it Take to be Disability Qualified?
Being disabled means your disease or disorder prevents you from gainful employment. The SSA will look at the work you’ve done in the past. It will consider whether you can continue in your profession or a related job using the skills you have developed. The SSA will also look at the following:
Documentation of Medical History
The SSA needs objective medical evidence. A Social Security Disability lawyer can advise you on the complicated rules related to objective medical evidence acceptable to the SSA. It should contain a record of your disease and treatment and come with doctors’ case notes, hospital records, or files from clinics and therapists.
An Overview of the Finances
Unable to work means you cannot earn or engage in substantial gainful activity—or the SGA test. The federal government has a monetary test for SGA, which considers your earnings history. In 2023, the financial limit is $1470, and $2460 for individuals who are blind.
Signs You May Be Approved
Successful claims tend to have several factors in common, including:
- SSDI benefit eligibility
- A listed medical condition
- Objective medical evidence
- Income within the SGA monetary test
- Unable to do substantial gainful work
In addition, research has shown that people who apply for disability after working a long time, at least one-fourth of their adult lives, or five years in the past ten years, have a good chance of success. SSA will also look at:
Earned Work Credits
The government requires you to have earned work credits for disability. SSA looks at how recently you worked and for how long. The rules for how much work the SSA expects will depend on your age. For example, if you are between the ages of 24 and 31, you would need 12 credits accrued. If you are age 31 or older, you must have 20 credits, which you may earn in the ten years immediately before your disability.
Get Help Applying For Disability Benefits
We are a national service law firm. You don’t have to travel to our office. We can do everything remotely. Our staff will work with you to gather documents and obtain medical records from your healthcare providers. Then, we file all the necessary forms to apply for your SSDI disability benefits. No matter what stage your application may be in—whether you are considering applying or need to appeal—our experienced lawyers can prepare the necessary filings, present crucial medical evidence, and appear at your SSDI hearing.
Moreover, our fee is limited by law to a small percentage of any back pay you are awarded. Research by AARP shows that having an Social Security Disability attorney represent you in an SSDI application increases your chances of getting disability benefits. Our team of skilled Social Security Disability lawyers and staff will prepare your case. We’ll stick with you through all necessary appeals. That matters because persistence is typically the key to winning disability benefits. Take the first step toward the SSDI compensation you may deserve–call now for a no-obligation consultation.