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There are two separate areas of qualification that a person must meet to be considered for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. The first relates to your work history and the amount of Social Security employment credits you have earned, and when those credits were earned. The second area of qualification relates to your medical condition and inability to work.
The determination of medical disability takes several factors into account, such as:
When seeking to establish disability benefits, the Social Security Blue Book is an invaluable resource. It is a free resource available online from the Social Security Administration website that provides detailed descriptions of every medical disorder that qualifies you for SSD benefits.
Blue Book listings are divided into 14 sections, including adult and child listings, which correspond to categories of bodily disorders and conditions. Within each listing are the requirements to obtain benefits.
As an example, let’s assume you have asthma. This disorder falls under Section 3.0 “Respiratory Disorders.” Asthma is covered specifically under subsections 3.02 and 3.03. Clicking on Section 3.03 takes you to a table containing values for differing height individuals, both male and female. Using this table, you can determine if your disablement has sufficient severity to warrant a disabling label.
There are also other sections that deal with acceptable medical testing that provides qualifying evidence for your condition.
The SSA Blue Book can be very confusing if you are not familiar with medical terms and certain testing procedures. Your physician will have to be involved with any application or appeal for SSD benefits, so talk with him or her about your diagnosis and how it compares to related information in the Blue Book.
If your condition or disorder is not mentioned in the Blue Book, this doesn’t mean you cannot qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Your symptoms may qualify under another, similar listing for which benefits are provided.
If you are uncertain about meeting the medical condition requirements, contact us with your questions. Southeast Disability Advocates has helped thousands of clients through the Social Security Disability application process. Give us a call.
