According to the Social Security Administration, more than ten million individuals are receiving Social Security based on their disability. This includes the 250,000 disabled widowers and widows, 1 million adults who are disabled, and around 8 million workers who are disabled. Apart from this, about 2 million school-going children of disabled workers and 140,000 spouses receive Social Security benefits.
Disability is a term used to define a person who is unable to carry out any profitable activity because of any mental or physical impairment. It is complicated to understand the Social Security listing of impairments that qualify an individual for Social Security Disability benefits.
This is why Social Security Disability lawyers like Oklahoma SSI Lawyer can help you understand the common conditions of disability and whether you can get Social Security benefits or not. They can assist you and appeal on your behalf if you are previously denied the claim for Social Security Disability benefits. This article discusses ten conditions that fall under different categories and automatically qualify you for social security disability benefits. So let’s look at these conditions and what they entail.
What are the conditions that automatically qualify you for SSD?
There are many different conditions that can make an individual with any of these conditions eligible for the social security disability benefit. So if you have any of the conditions mentioned below, then you can claim for the social security disability benefit to get the social security disability benefits and make your life easier and more productive. Here are some of the conditions that will automatically qualify an individual who is a policyholder for the social security disability benefits.
1) Mental disorders
i. Mood and psychotic disorders
ii. Asperger’s syndrome
2) Musculoskeletal system disorders including:
i. Joint and tissue problems
ii. Back pain
3) Circulatory system disorders
i. Coronary artery disease and arrhythmia
ii. Congenital heart defects
4) Cancer
5) Nervous system disorder
i. Blindness and hearing loss
ii. Parkinson’s disease
iii. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Let’s look at all these conditions in detail. If you experience the symptoms or have medical diagnoses and documentation that points towards the condition, then you are eligible for social security disability benefits. If you don’t know how to claim for the social security disability benefit, then you can hire a lawyer who will help you claim your rights and get the social security disability benefits you deserve.
1) Mental Disorders
Around 20% of the social security disability benefits are given to individuals with mental disorders. It is important that the mental disability is medically diagnosed, and it should also significantly affect the individual’s ability to function on their own and carry out activities without any help.
i. Mood and psychotic disorders
To qualify for the social security disability benefits under mood disorders, the anxiety disorders like Post-traumatic stress, depressions, and panic attacks must limit the individual’s ability to understand and process information, to have proper social interactions with other people, and to focus on oneself and take care of oneself. Individuals with psychotic disorders like schizophrenia or others who experience hallucinations, confusion, delusions, and inability to think properly can also qualify for the benefit. If the condition is properly documented, then the individual with these disorders can qualify for the social security disability benefits.
ii. Asperger’s syndrome
Autism spectrum disorders leave an individual lacking in verbal or non-verbal communication, interactions with others, and limited thinking and understanding capacity, memory, and processing of information focusing on oneself and managing oneself. If this all is medically diagnosed and documented, then the individual with this disorder can qualify for the social security disability benefits.
2) Musculoskeletal system disorders
It has been reported by the Social Security Administration that the biggest category of disabled individuals receiving social security disability benefits is for the impairments of the musculoskeletal system. These impairments are around 32% of the diagnoses made by the SSA. These impairments usually involve damage of ligaments, muscles, tendons, or nerves.
i. Joint or tissue problems
Problems like arthritis and fibromyalgia fall under disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Arthritis is a disorder of the individual’s immune system and is also known as connective tissue disorder. An individual with great limitations in their ability to work can qualify for the social security benefits. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome in which the individual experiences pain in joints, muscles, soft tissues, and tendons. If there is adequate evidence that the individual’s condition is affecting their ability to work or perform any profitable work, then they can qualify for this benefit.
ii. Back pain
Back pain resulting from spinal disorders, scoliosis, ruptured disc, or degenerative disc disease can greatly affect an individual’s ability to carry out daily tasks, let alone any profitable work. An abnormal shape of the spine affects the person’s ability to walk. People with back pain that limits their ability to function can be considered under the social security disability benefits program.
3) Circulatory system disorders
According to the Social Security Administration, around 10% of the individuals receiving social security disability benefits have a circulatory system disorder. The circulatory system includes the cardiovascular system that revolves around the veins, arteries, heart, blood, and oxygen.
Any problem in these can result in various disorders of the cardiovascular system. These problems can affect the proper functioning of an individual. It can also affect their daily life. Affected individuals may be unable to perform daily tasks and perform any profitable work.
iii. Coronary artery disease and arrhythmia
Coronary artery disease includes the narrowing of coronary arteries due to plaque build-up and thus resulting in reduced oxygen and blood supply to the individual’s heart. This could lead to myocardial ischemia. Individuals with coronary artery disease may have impaired function. Individuals with impaired ability to function can qualify the individual for the social security disability benefits. Arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm includes many categories depending upon where they occur in the heart. The most serious ones are those that start at the lower chambers of the heart.
iv. Congenital heart defects
Individuals with congenital heart defects or heart diseases who undergo surgery may be qualified for the social security disability benefit for 12 months after the surgery. These surgeries can include treatment of lesions, or heart valves, or the insertions of peacemaker. So if you get surgeries for these, then you can easily claim the social security disability benefits that will help improve your life.
4) Cancer
Abnormal tissue masses or neoplasms are tumors. These can be cancerous or noncancerous. Around 9% of the social security disability benefits given are for individuals with this type of disorder. These neoplasms can appear anywhere in the body. The most common types of cancers include lung cancer or mesothelioma. So if an individual is suffering from cancer, then they can claim the social security disability benefits.
5) Nervous system disorders
Under this category of disorders, around 10% of individuals are given social security disability benefits for nervous system disorders. Nervous and sensory disorders can be devastating and greatly impact an individual’s day-to-day activities, including their work. So individuals with the following conditions are also entitled to social security disability benefits.
i. Blindness and loss of hearing
According to the Social security administration, there are special rules for people with blindness or limited vision. According to them, if the individual’s vision cannot be treated to improve than 20/200 in the good eye, then that individual can qualify for social security disability benefits, even if they earn some money from the work they do. For loss of hearing, if the individual is deeply deaf, only then will they qualify for social security disability benefits under hearing loss disability.
ii. Parkinson’s disease
Individuals with Parkinson’s disease show extremely limited motor function in legs and arms, which results in limited ability to stand, balance the body while walking, using their arms, or limited physical functioning, which affects the understanding, processing of information, and interacting with others. People who exhibit these symptoms can qualify for the social security disability benefits.
iii. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, it is a disorder with complex symptoms with varying duration and severity. In this disorder, the individual may experience fatigue for up to six months or longer than that. This limits the ability of an individual to work, socially interact or carry out personal activities efficiently. Diagnosis of the disorder along with medical documentation can allow an individual to receive socials security disability benefits.
The Bottom Line
There are many conditions that can disable an individual and thus make them eligible for social security disability benefits. In addition to the conditions mentioned above, autoimmune system disorders like lupus, chronic headaches, GI tract disorders like Irritable bowel disease or Crohn’s disease, respiratory system disorders like asthma, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and urinary system disorders like kidney disease can also qualify an individual for social security disability benefits.
So if you are suffering from any of the above conditions, or know someone who is affected by any of these conditions, then it is crucial that you claim the social security disability benefits. You can also get help and assistance from social security disability lawyers. They are there to help you file the claim and get the benefit you deserve according to your condition. In this way, you can move on in life and not suffer as much from your disabling condition.
