Understanding what types of medical conditions qualify for Social Security disability benefits can be half the battle of obtaining the benefits many disabled individuals badly need. This blog can help answer some questions disabled individuals have about Social Security disability benefits for illness.
A list of medical conditions, or list of impairments, that automatically qualify for Social Security disability benefits if certain conditions are met is maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA). It is a fairly comprehensive list that disabled individuals should be familiar with but just because they do not suffer from a medical condition on the list does not necessarily mean they cannot receive disability benefits and should be familiar with that as well. They may be able to document their disability in other ways using their medical history and records.
The medical conditions named as qualifying for Social Security disability (SSD) by the Social Security Administration include musculoskeletal problems; respiratory illnesses; cardiovascular conditions; digestive tract problems; blood disorders; immune system disorders; neurological disorders; sense and speech issues; and mental disorders. To qualify for SSD benefits, the disabled individual must be able to establish a medical impairment that prevents them from being able to work and is expected to last 12 months or longer or result in death.
There are different ways that disabled individuals may be able to demonstrate the medical condition they suffer from, causing their disability. They should be familiar with both the list of disabling medical conditions provided by the SSA but also how medical evidence is used to establish the existence of a medical condition for receipt of benefits.