Am I Medically Qualified to Receive Social Security Disability?

After the Social Security Administration has verified that you are financially eligible to receive SSD benefits, they will send your application to the Disability Determination Services, a state agency that will evaluate your medical condition to determine if you qualify for benefits.

How does the SSA define disability?

The SSA will only pay when a person has a total disability. According to Social Security rules, you are considered disabled if:

• You cannot do the work you did before
• You cannot adjust to other work due to your medical condition; and
• Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death

An individual’s condition must be severe enough to significantly interfere with the person’s normal activities of daily living. Basically, the person is unable to work.

The condition must last at least 12 months, and be likely to become permanent

The condition must be severe enough and impose enough limitations, either physical or mental, that the individual is unable to perform any of the kinds of work he or she has done for the past 15 years. The applicant must also be unable to use his or her educational background, skills and abilities to take on another type of work.

Disability listings

The DDS refers to a “Blue Book,” the Disability Evaluation Under Social Security, that lists the approval criteria for certain impairments. On the SSA website you can find the listing of Impairments for adults over the age of 18. This listing contains the most common medical conditions that the SSA considers to be severe enough to prevent a person from working. If you have an impairment that matches a listing, you can qualify for SSD automatically regardless of whether or not you have some ability to work.

Even if you have a medical impairment that is not listed in the Blue Book you can still qualify for disability if you can prove that the condition limits your ability to work.

Mental impairments for SSD

The DDS also evaluates individuals who are unable to work due to a mental impairment such as a psychiatric, psychological, emotional, or cognitive condition. The examiner determines if the applicant’s condition matches what is found in a listing, and the individual is unable to do the work he or she has been doing or any other kind of work.

The qualification process for Social Security Disability is complex. When you work with an experienced SSD lawyer you significantly increase your chances of getting approved for benefits because the lawyer has been through the process countless times with other clients and they can help you avoid the pitfalls of dealing with the Social Security Administration.

At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are always ready to help our clients throughout Memphis, Jackson and West Tennessee protect their futures. Please contact our firm to learn more about our services.