New Social Security Regulations which will become effective on June 7, 2011 will make it significantly more difficult for a Social Security claimant to receive benefits for endocrine disorders such as diabetes. This is because the official listing for endocrine disorders is being significantly amended.
One way that a claimant for Social Security Disability benefits can prevail in his or her claim is to meet the criteria of at least one of the Listings of Impairments, which are listings of diseases or disorders found in Social Security regulations. A claimant who can prove that he or she meets the criteria of a listing is presumed unable to work or engage in any substantial gainful activity. Beginning on June 7, the listing for endocrine illnesses like diabetes will be removed in all cases except for children under the age of 6, which will make it impossible for any claimant over the age of 6 to meet a listing based on his or her diabetes or other endocrine problem. It will still be possible for these claimants to prevail, but to do so will require a much more fact-intensive analysis of several other factors including age and functional capacity.
Social Security will apply these new rules to all new or pending applications beginning June 7.