Social Security Disability Blog

Heart failure (CHF) is a condition that effects the heart’s ability to pump enough blood to body tissues, and may effect a person’s ability to work and entitle that person to receive disability benefits. There can be multiple causes of CHF, including hypertension, cardiomyopathy rheumatic, congenital, or other heart disease. To qualify as disabled for chronic heart failure, the Social Security Administration analyzes it under Listing 4.02.  In order to meet the severity level under listing 4.02, an individual must meet the criteria of both parts A and B of that listing. Both of the two main types of heart failure (predominant systolic dysfunction and predominant diastolic… Continue Reading Heart failure (CHF) is a condition that effects the heart’s ability to pump enough blood to body tissues, and may effect a person’s ability to work and entitle that person to receive disability benefits. More...

Seizures and Epilepsy are neurological disorders that affect a person’s ability to perform tasks, sometimes even simple tasks, and leave many individuals unable to work. The Social Security Administration (SSA) classifies Epilepsy as a neurological disorder under Listing 11.02 and 11.03 of the Impairment Listing Manual. We say individuals with purpose here as there are many types and levels of seizures, and they have a wide variety of effect on that individual.  Disability applicants certainly can receive benefits but SSA bases a determination on the severity and frequency of the seizures, potentially in combination with other health issues.  Social Security will first examine the frequency,… Continue Reading Seizures and Epilepsy More...

Knee, elbow and pain in any major joint, no matter the cause, can severely limit your  daily activities but also your ability to work. Disability issues for joint pain and dysfunction are categorized under Listing 1.02.  In order to qualify, you must show an anatomical deformity in the effected joint, along with chronic pain or stiffness that limits the range of motion and functioning of the joint. You must also be able to show signs of joint space narrowing, bony destruction, or ankylosis of the affected joint through medically acceptable imaging, such as an x-ray. Listing 1.02 also distinguishes between major weight bearing joints like… Continue Reading Knee, elbow and pain in any major joint, no matter the cause, can severely limit your daily activities but also your ability to work. More...

Inflammatory arthritis is a disability often causing inflammation – and distinct pain, in joints.  It frequently is associated with swelling and tenderness.  It is associated with disorders such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, Psoriatic arthritis, gout and psuedo-gout, lyme disease, and inflammatory bowel syndrome. The pain and other symptoms may result in difficulty with many forms of movement, and may effect one’s ability to work. The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates inflammatory arthritis under listing 14.09 of the Impairment Listing Manual.  The regulation references persistent inflammation or persistent deformity of …weight-bearing joints resulting in the inability to ambulate effectively or … the inability to perform… Continue Reading Inflammatory arthritis is a disability often causing inflammation – and distinct pain, in joints. More...

If you have Degenerative Disk Disease and are unable to work as a result of your diagnosis, you may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) classifies Degenerative Disk Disease as a disorder of the spine under Listing 1.04 of the Impairment Listing Manual. When filing a claim for disability benefits with a diagnosis of Degenerative Disk Disease, it is important to have medical records showing evidence of the following criteria, set forth in Listing 1.04: 1. Nerve root compression characterized by neuro-anatomic distribution of pain, limitation of motion of the spine, motor loss (atrophy with associated muscle weakness or… Continue Reading Degenerative Disk Disease More...

No doubt that receiving a diagnosis of cancer is both traumatic and overwhelming. You may be unable to work and keep up with their normal everyday lifestyles as a result. Depending on the nature of the cancer, you may be eligible to qualify them to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income benefits (SSI).   Certain cancers make an applicant immediately eligible to start receiving benefits. Based on the cancer diagnosis alone, the following types of cancers garner immediate approval: metastatic brain or spinal cord carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, mesothelioma of the pleura, small cell cancer of the lungs, primary cancer… Continue Reading Certain cancers make an applicant immediately eligible to start receiving benefits. More...

Down syndrome is caused by an individual having an extra chromosome. In the United States, 1 in every 691 babies are born with Down syndrome, making it the most common genetic condition. The genetic condition affects each child’s course of development differently. Some of the most common physical traits are small stature, slanted eyes, and low muscle tone. https://ndss.org/about If your child has been diagnosed with non-mosaic Down syndrome and meets SSA’s financial requirements, he or she will automatically start receiving SSI payments. You can prove your child’s non-mosaic Down syndrome disability by a laboratory test or by obtaining a report from your child’s physician. The… Continue Reading Children, Down’s Syndrome and Disability More...

Many people suffer from anxiety, and some have anxiety levels that are disabling.  The Social Security Administration evaluates mental disorders under a specific type of regulation called “12.06.”  To qualify as an anxiety disorder under 12.06, anxiety must be either the predominant disturbance or experienced as a result of an individual’s attempts to master symptoms. In order for an anxiety disorder to be sufficiently severe for the SSA to render a finding of disabled, the requirements in section A and B or in A and C of 12.06 must be satisfied. There are 5 ways in which an individual can satisfy section A through production… Continue Reading Anxiety Disorders Listing 12.06 More...

The final rule that makes changes to the listing for Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems (Listing 110.00) went into effect on April 5, 2013. The disorders evaluated under this listing and affected by the changes include non-mosaic Down syndrome and catastrophic congenital disorders such as anencephaly, cyclopia, Patau syndrome, and Edwards’ syndrome, among others. Non-mosaic Down syndrome is listed under 110.06. The evidence the Social Security Administration (SSA) looks at when evaluating a claim under 110.06 centers around laboratory findings, specifically a report of karyotype analysis, the determinative test to establish non-mosaic Down syndrome. However, if you do not have a karyotype analysis… Continue Reading The final rule that makes changes to the listing for Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems (Listing 110.00) went into effect on April 5, 2013. More...

As former Commissioners of the Social Security Administration (SSA), we write to express our significant concerns regarding a series recently aired on This American Life, All Things Considered, and National Public Radio stations across the U.S. (“Unfit for Work: The Startling Rise of Disability in America”). Our nation’s Social Security system serves as a vital lifeline for millions of individuals with severe disabilities. We feel compelled to share our unique insight into the Social Security system because we know firsthand the dangers of mischaracterizing the disability programs via sensational, anecdote-based media accounts, leaving vulnerable beneficiaries to pick up the pieces. Approximately 1 in 5 of our fellow Americans live with disabilities,… Continue Reading An Open Letter from Former Commissioners of the Social Security Administration More...