If you are seriously ill or have suffered a major injury you may be unable to work which can lead to financial hardships and mental distress. You may have heard that some people with very serious medical ailments collect Social Security Disability benefits, but you may think your medical condition is not one that is covered by the system. The fact is, though, that the Social Security Administration will award SSD benefits for many types of conditions.
The Listing of Impairments
The Listing of Impairments includes all medical conditions the SSA recognizes that could qualify a person for SSD benefits. These impairments must prevent an applicant from doing any gainful activity. The majority of these impairments are permanent, terminal or at least must last for 12 consecutive months. The Listing of Impairments lays out the requirements that must be met for a person to qualify for SSD benefits based on that impairment.
What conditions are included in the listing of impairments?
The Listing of Impairments describes all the elements that must be met for a medical condition to be considered disabling. Many medical conditions are included in the Listing of Impairments. They include:
- Spine injuries, amputations or joint abnormalities
- Visual disorders and hearing loss
- Asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic pulmonary hypertension
- Chronic heart failure, congenital heart disease and aneurysms
- Chronic liver disease and inflammatory bowel disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Sickle cell disease and bone marrow disorders
- Chronic skin infections, dermatitis and burns
- Thyroid disorders, diabetes and hyperglycemia
- Down syndrome
- Epilepsy, brain tumors and Parkinsonian syndrome
- Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders
- Cancer
- Lupus, scleroderma and inflammatory arthritis
These are only a few of the many medical conditions that could qualify you for SSD benefits if all the elements listed in the Listing of Impairments for that disorder are met.
Do not be afraid to seek SSD benefits
You may be hesitant to apply for SSD benefits because you are unsure if your medical condition is severe enough to qualify for benefits. However, the SSA recognizes many different medical conditions as disabling. Yours may be one of them, and if it is, you may be able to apply for the benefits you deserve.