If you have a medical condition that makes it difficult or impossible for you to work you may qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. Anyone can apply for SSD benefits. The only requirement that you must meet in order to apply for SSD benefits is that you expect your medical condition to keep you from working for at least a year. If you think that you won’t be able to work for at least 12 months you can apply for disability benefits to help pay for expenses while you can’t work.

Medically Qualifying for Social Security Disability Benefits

In order to medically qualify for SSD benefits you need to be diagnosed with a medical condition that is listed in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book. The Blue Book contains a set of criteria for each condition that must be met in order to have your application for benefits approved.

You will need to show medical documentation of your condition in order to get your claim approved. You can submit doctor’s notes, medical bills, test results, and many other types of medical paperwork to help boost your claim. Each qualifying condition has different medical criteria needed to qualify.

For example, if you suffered a spinal cord injury, you will need to meet a listing under Section 1.00 Musculoskeletal System. Under section 1.04, Disorders of the spine, you can qualify if:

• you have a compromised nerve root or spinal cord

AND

• Evidence that your injury caused nerve root compression, causing pain, limited motion of your spine, motor loss, reflex loss

OR

• Spinal arachnoiditis

OR

• Lumbar spinal stenosis.

If you do not meet a listing under section 1.00 for your spinal cord injury, you may also be able to qualify under section 11.08 Spinal Cord Disorders. To qualify under this listing, you must:

• Have complete loss of function

OR

• Extreme limitation in walking, standing from a seated position, or using upper extremities for 3 consecutive months.

OR

• Have marked limitation in physical functioning as well as understanding, remembering and applying information, interacting with others, or concentration, persisting or maintain space or adapting or managing yourself.

These are just some of the many listings found in the Blue Book. If you are not sure if your condition meets the criteria in the Blue Book listing for that condition the best thing to do is ask your doctor. Your doctor will be able to tell you if your condition meets the Blue Book requirements for that condition. You can find the Blue Book online.

Qualifying If You Do Not Meet the Blue Book

You may still be able to qualify if you do not meet a Blue Book listing through a Medical Vocational Allowance. By doing so, you will need to file a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) form. This evaluation, completed by a doctor, will help demonstrate that you are unable to work within your particular skill set or training due to the condition you are experiencing. You can download an RFC form to have a doctor complete on your behalf.

Applying For Social Security Disability Benefits

Don’t wait to apply for SSD benefits if you can’t work. You can apply online. Or, if you have trouble filling out paperwork or you have questions about the application you can make an appointment at your nearest SSA office and apply in person. If you apply in person a staff member can help you fill out and submit your application for disability benefits. Once approved, your benefits can be used for things like rent, utilities, medication, and other daily living needs.

Resources:

Blue Book: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm

Blue Book for Spinal Cord Injury: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/11.00-Neurological-Adult.htm – 11_08

Residual Functional Capacity Form: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms/images/SSA4/G-SSA-4734-U8-1.pdf

SSDI: https://www.disabilitybenefitscenter.org/glossary/social-security-disability-insurance-SSDI

Apply Here: https://secure.ssa.gov/iClaim/dib

Local SSA Office: https://www.disabilitybenefitscenter.org/state-social-security-disability