Qualifying Conditions

What Conditions Qualify For Disability

The Social Security Administration (SSA) awards Social Security Disability benefits based on the type of disabling condition the claimant is suffering from. These are conditions that affect an individuals ability to gain substantial employment. The SSA's impairment listing manual, also known as the "Blue Book," contains a list of these conditions. If you are suffering from one of these conditions, then you maybe eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Fill out your information to receive a free case evaluation. Start the disability benefits process today.

List of Disabilities

Musculoskeletal issues, for example fractures to the back.
Cardiovascular conditions, such as coronary artery disease or heart failure.
Sense and voice difficulties, such as vision impairment and hearing loss.
Breathing conditions, such as COPD.

In addition to the disabling conditions, the SSA also has a list of 88 conditions that automatically qualify for disability benefits under the Compassionate Allowance program. The Compassionate Allowances program is intended to expedite the application process for those with severe medical conditions.

How To Qualify for Disability Benefits

In order to apply for Social Security Disability Benefits, you must first have worked in the US. You also must have a medical disorder that fits the Social Security criteria of disability. In addition, you must be expected to be out of work for a year or longer. The amount of job credits that you need when applying depends on your age before you become ill. Generally, you require 40 credits, 20 of which have been obtained in the last 10 years of the year you became disabled. However, younger employees could be eligible with fewer credits.

Benefits normally continue until you are able to work on a daily basis again. There are also a set of special laws, named 'working incentives,' which allows you to continue receiving benefits and health care services to help you make the transition back to work.

If you receive Social Security Disability Payments before you reach maximum retirement age, the disability benefits will automatically be converted to retirement benefits, but the payment will remain the same.

What Conditions Automatically Qualify You For Disability Benefits?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) may approve your disability benefit application faster if it is on a list of conditions that automatically qualify you for a disability benefit. These medical conditions include the following list:

blood disorders, for example hemophilia or sickle cell disease;
cardiovascular conditions, for example coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure or
digestive tract problems, e.g. inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or liver disease;
immune system disorders, for example kidney disease, lupus, HIV/AIDS or rheumatoid arthritis;
mental disorders, e.g. anxiety, autism, depression, intellectual disability or schizophrenia;
musculoskeletal problems, such as back conditions and other dysfunctions of the joints and bones;
neurological disorders, for example cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s diseas
respiratory illnesses, for example cystic fibrosis or asthma;
senses and speech issues, e.g. hearing loss or loss of vision.

Unfortunately, although the SSA maintains this list of disabilities that automatically qualify for a benefit, your disability benefit application must still be accompanied by medical evidence showing when the condition developed, how and when it was treated and current medical records showing the prognosis and any treatment including x-rays, tests and scans that are relevant to the disability.

If your disability benefit application is approved you will receive a monthly payment from the SSA either through the social security disability insurance (SSDI) scheme or the supplemental security income (SSI) scheme, depending on work history, income and assets. Continuation of the payment may also be dependent on providing regular medical updates to the SSA detailing the current state of your disability.

What if My Condition Isn't Listed

It's crucial to remember that your disability does not have to be on the SSA's list if you wish to apply for Social Security Disability benefits. You must, however, provide the SSA with a documented diagnosis of your disease that demonstrates it is a "medically determinable disability" that stops you from working and operating on a daily basis. This means that your condition must be serious enough to prevent you from working or carrying out your daily tasks. The term "residual functional capacity" refers to this capacity loss.

Cardiovascular System

Aneurysm of Aorta or Major Branches
Artery Disease
Atrial Fibrillation
Blood Clots
Chest Pain
COPD
Heart Failure
Heart Transplants
Heart Valve Disorder
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
High Cholesterol
Ischemic Heart Disease
Marfan Syndrome
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Raynaud's Disease
Recurrent Arrhythmias
Sinus Bradycardia
Symptomatic Congenital Heart Disease
Syncope/Fainting

Digestive System

Bowel Incontinence
Cirrhosis
Colon Cancer
Colitis
Crohn's Disease
Diverticulitis
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhaging
Gastroparesis
GERD
Glycogen Storage Disease
Hepatitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Liver Disease
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Short Bowel Syndrome
Stomach Pain
Ulcers
Wilson's Disease

Endocrine System

Adrenal Gland Disorders
Diabetes
Graves' Disease
Hyperparathyroidism
Hyperfunction of Adrenal Cortex
Hyperglycemia
Hypoglycemia
Obesity
Pancreas Transplant
Pancreatic Gland Disorders
Pancreatitis
Pituitary Gland Disorders
Thyroid Gland Disorders

Genitourinary Impairments

Chronic Obstructive Uropathy
Interstitial Cystitis
Kidney Failure
Kidney Transplant
Nephrotic Syndrome

Hematological Disorders

Aplastic Anemias with Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation
Budd-Chiari Syndrome
Coagulation Defects and Hemophilia
Chronic Anemia
Chronic Granulocytophenia
Chronic Liver Disease
Chronic Thrombocytopenia
Gilbert's Syndrome
Haemochromatosis
Liver Transplants
Macroglobulinemia
Multiple Myeloma
Polycythemia Vera
Sickle Cell Disease

Immune System Disorders

Epstein-Barr Virus
Guillain Barre Syndrome
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Lupus
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Polymyositis
Scleroderma
Sjorgen's Syndrome
Systemic Vasculitis
Undifferentiated and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

Malignant Neoplastic Diseases

Acute Leukemia
Benign Brain Tumors
Bile Duct Cancer
Brain Cancer
Breast Cancer
Cancer
Carcinoid Tumors
Cervical Cancer
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Esophageal Cancer
Fallopian Tube Cancer
Islet Cell Cancer
Lung Cancer and Social Security Disability
Lymphedema
Lymphoma
Mesothelioma
Myelofibrosis (Myeloproliferative Syndrome)
Oral Cancers
Pancreatic Cancer
Penile Cancer
Pituitary Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Salivary Cancer
Sinus Cancer
Soft Tissue Injury (Burns)
Stomach Cancer
Thymoma
Trabecular Cancer
Testicular Cancer
Urethral Cancer
Vaginal Cancer
Vascular Tumors

Mental Disorders

Anxiety Disorder
Anorexia
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Asperger's Syndrome
Autism
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Drug Addiction
Dysthymia
Memory Loss
Mood Disorders
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Organic Mental Disorders
Panic Attacks
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Somatoform Disorders
Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizophrenia

Multiple Body System Impairments

Caudal Regression Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Insomnia
Dermatomyositis
Dwarfism
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fragile X Syndrome
Hereditary Telangiectasia
Mosaic/Non-mosaic Down Syndrome
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Trisomy X Syndrome (XXX Syndrome)

Musculoskeletal System

Amputation
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Avascular Necrosis
Back Pain
Bone Cancer
Bone Spurs
Bursitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Clubfoot
Complex Regional Pain Sydrome
Degenerative Disc Disease
Dysautonomia
Fibromuscular Dysplasia
Fibromyalgia
Fracture of an Upper Extremity
Fracture of the Femur, Tibia, Pelvis, or One or More of the Tarsal Bones
Gout
Herniated Disc
Hip Replacement
Inflammatory Arthritis
Joint Pain
Knee Replacement
Lumbar Stenosis
Lyme Disease
Major Dysfunction of a Joint
Muscular Dystrophy
Myasthenia Gravis
Neck Pain
Osteoarthritis
Paralysis
Piriformis Syndrome
Reflex Sympathetic Disorder
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Ruptured Disc
Scoliosis
Shoulder Pain
Spinal Arachnoiditis
Spinal Cord Injury
Spine Disorders
Torn ACL
Whiplash

Neurological Problems

Anterior Poliomyelitis
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ( ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease)
Cerebral Palsy
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome
Chronic Migraines
Convulsive Epilepsy
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Dystonia
Hydrocephalus
Myasthenia Gravis
Narcolepsy
Motor Neuron Disease
Neuralgia
Neuropathy
Non-convulsive Epilepsy
Parkinsonian Syndrome
Polio
Pseudobulbar Affect
Seizure Disorder
Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident)
Syringomyelia
Tourette's Syndrome
Traumatic Brain Injury

Respiratory System

Asthma
Bronchiectasis
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Restrictive Ventilatory Disease
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Cystic Fibrosis
Emphysema
Lung Transplant
Mycobacterial, Mycotic, and Other Chronic Persistent Infections of the Lungs
Pneumoconiosis
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Sarcoidosis
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Related Breathing Disorders
Varicose Veins

Skin Disorders

Bullous Diseases
Burns
Cellulitis
Chronic Skin Diseases
Dermatitis
Genetic Photosensitivity Disorders
Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Ichthyosis
Psoriasis

Special Senses and Speech

Acoustic Neuroma
Auditory Processing Disorder
Loss of Speech
Macular Degeneration
Meniere's Disease
Otolaryngology (Hearing Loss)
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Vision Loss