More than 15 million people currently receive disability benefits through the Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance programs. Although there are many types of medical conditions that could allow you to qualify for SSI or SSDI benefits, data from the Social Security Administration reveals some common disabilities that appear most frequently in applications for Social Security disability benefits.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four adults living in the United States have a disability affecting their ability to engage in normal daily activities. The most common disabilities include the following:
No matter what type of condition causes you to be disabled and unable to work, your claim must be supported by medical evidence that includes a diagnosis based on a clinical examination and diagnostic test results.
In order to qualify for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration, you must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment causing you to be unable to perform the substantial gainful activity. The impairment or impairments must have lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death.
The SSA uses the monthly income to determine if you are capable of engaging in substantial gainful activity. If you work and earn $1,350 per month or more in 2022, you are performing substantial gainful activity and would not qualify for SSI or SSDI benefits. If you are blind, the monthly earnings amount in 2022 is $2,190.
The fact that you cannot perform substantial gainful activity does not necessarily mean you qualify for benefits. The determination process next looks at whether you are capable of performing a type of work that you did in the past, or whether you can adjust to a different type of work in light of your age, training, education and the limits of your medical condition.
The SSA maintains a listing of impairments, which is also referred to as the “Blue Book,” containing lists of physical and mental impairments for adults and children. If you have a disability caused by a listed impairment, the SSA considers it to be severe enough to meet the disability definition used to determine eligibility for benefits.
The process to apply for Social Security disability benefits is difficult, but a disability lawyer at Disability Partners, PLLC, puts years of experience and knowledge into helping you get the benefits you are entitled to receive. Contact us today for a free consultation and claim assessment.