07/23/2019
Disability Guidelines:
What Medical Conditions Qualify for Social Security Disability or SSI?
An illness or disease does not need to be listed in Social Security's blue book to qualify for disability benefits.
The Social Security Administration's impairment listing manual (called the blue book) lists a number of impairments, both physical and mental, that will automatically qualify an individual for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), provided the individual's condition meets the specified criteria for a listing.
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Has the applicant been forced to stop or reduce work hours?
What Medical Conditions Are Listed?
The listing manual, which has been updated for 2018, includes:
musculoskeletal problems, such as back injuries
cardiovascular conditions, such as heart failure or coronary artery disease
senses and speech issues, such as vision and hearing loss
respiratory illnesses, such as COPD or asthma
neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy
mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism, or retardation
immune system disorders, such as HIV/AIDS, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
various syndromes, such as Sjogren's Syndrome and Marfan Syndrome
skin disorders, such as dermatitis
digestive tract problems, such as liver disease or IBD
kidney disease and genitourinary problems, and
cancer
hematological disorders, such as hemolytic anemias and disorders of bone marrow failure
For articles on getting disability for many common conditions, some of which are in the blue book and some of which aren't, see Medical Conditions, Impairments, and Problems.
Does a Medical Condition Have to Match the Blue Book Listing?
An individual filing for Social Security disability benefits does not necessarily have to satisfy the exact listing requirements for a particular illness or condition (such as rheumatoid arthritis) to be awarded disability benefits based on this condition. You can also be awarded disability benefits if Social Security considers aspects of your condition medically equivalent to the criteria in the listing or a related listing. This is called "equaling a disability listing." (According to recent government statistics, 37% of all approved disability applications "met" a listing and 6% "equaled" a listing.)
Alternatively, you can be eligible for disability benefits if you don't meet or equal the criteria for the blue book listing for your condition if your condition limits your functioning so much that you can't work. The SSA will consider the effect of your condition on your capacity to perform routine daily activities and work and will then determine whether there is any kind of job you can safely be expected to do. For more information, see our section on how Social Security decides if your limitations make you disabled. (In a recent year, half of all approved disability applications were approved based on an assessment of applicants' limitations.)
Lora (Sampson) Barabino-Iwuji (Disability Representative/ Consultant).
Does a Medical Condition Have to Be in the Blue Book?
A Social Security disability claimant doesn't even have to have an impairment that is listed in the Social Security disability blue book to be awarded disability benefits. For instance, migraine headaches are not included in the blue book, but if a claimant's migraines are severe enough and are well documented, the SSA may grant disability benefits if the migraines make it impossible for the disability applicant to work a full-time job. The keys here are that the condition be a medically determinable impairment and that it reduces someone's RFC enough so that they can't do their prior job or any job. In this case, an applicant could qualify for benefits under a medical-vocational allowance. Other common impairments that aren't listed in Social Security's blue book include carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic regional pain syndrome, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, celiac disease, and degenerative disc disease.
Which Medical Conditions Are Likely to Qualify for Disability?
While any of the above medical conditions are SSDI and SSI qualifying disabilities, some medical conditions are more likely to lead to an approval of benefits than others.
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