Anyone can become temporarily or permanently disabled following an accident or an illness. If your disability stops you from working, you may have a difficult time providing for yourself and the people you love. In this case, you may consider pursuing Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
However, to qualify for SSD benefits, the SSA must find your condition severely disabling.
So what exactly is a “severe disability?”
According to the SSA, a disabling condition is one that limits you from doing the following:
- Sitting
- Standing
- Lifting
- Walking
- Remembering
To be eligible for SSD benefits, your condition must have lasted (or is expected to last) for at least 12 months or more. Or, it should be terminal. The condition must also prevent you from working in your current role or any other type of work.
Examples of conditions the SSA considers disabling
The SSA Blue Book has a list of impairments that it recognizes as severe disabilities. However, it is important to understand that the presence of your condition on this list does not guarantee automatic qualification for the benefits. Other factors, like your income, can impact the outcome of your claim.
That said, here are some of the conditions the SSA consider disabling:
- Musculoskeletal disorders such as injury to the spine, amputations and fractures
- Sense and speech disorders such as loss of speech, hearing loss and visual impairment
- Respiratory disorders such as asthma, respiratory failure and lung transplant
- Cardiovascular disorders like chronic heart failure, heart transplant and ischemic heart disease.
Applying for SSD benefits can be extremely taxing, especially if you are not in your best shape. Find out how to increase your odds of filing a successful disability benefits claim