According to 2021, Census Bureau estimates, there are roughly 42.5 million Americans with disabilities, accounting for approximately 13% of the overall population. Individuals in this group have hearing, vision, cognition, walking, self-care, or independent living problems.
Furthermore, Americans with impairments have lower salaries than those without disabilities. According to the Census Bureau, the median wages for people with disabilities in 2021 were $28,438, while those without disabilities earned a median of $40,948.
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS), people with disabilities made up around 4% of the employed population in the United States in 2022.
Qualifying for disability benefits can be a challenging process that requires a significant quantity of paperwork and evidence to support your claim for financial assistance due to a medical condition. There is usually a waiting period after you submit your application before your eligibility is determined. If your application is denied, you will need to spend more time and effort appealing the decision. As a consequence, it’s a good idea to check your medical condition’s eligibility against the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) guidelines before submitting an SSDI application.
While no circumstances automatically ensure disability benefits, several conditions may result in faster approval. The “Blue Book” of the Social Security Administration summarises the most prevalent conditions considered for evaluation when filing for disability benefits. If your disease is not included in the Blue Book, you may still be eligible if it prevents you from engaging in significant gainful activity (SGA) and is likely to keep you from working for at least a year.
Before delving into the most generally accepted medical illnesses, it is critical to grasp the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability, which may differ from a medical diagnosis. The terms “substantial gainful activity (SGA)” and “significant functional impairment” are important to understand since the SSA uses these markers to establish eligibility for benefits.
If your income exceeds a particular level known as “substantial gainful activity” (SGA), you may lose your eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The SGA limit is changed on an annual basis to reflect changes in the national average pay. The SGA limit is scheduled to $1,470 per month in 2023 ($2,460 for blind individuals).
A person must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) to be eligible for disability compensation. Individuals are regarded to be engaging in SGA if their monthly earnings exceed the specified level of $1,470. While it is permissible to work while receiving disability benefits, having a monthly income that is close to or exceeds the SGA limit can jeopardize those benefits.
Functional impairments (FI) cause difficulties with essential daily activities such as dressing, grooming, getting in and out of bed, preparing meals, managing finances, and doing housework.
To be eligible for Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits due to a mental illness, the application must clearly demonstrate considerable functional impairment directly related to the person’s diagnosis. This impairment may involve issues understanding, remembering, applying knowledge, difficulties connecting with people, difficulties concentrating, continuing, or sustaining pace, as well as difficulties adapting or managing oneself.
The SSDI Benefit Group team of skilled disability advocates has produced a comprehensive list of ailments and disorders recognized by the SSA. Also, find explanations of the standard constraints and prerequisites required for each condition to be accepted.
These disorders involve bones, major joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, or other soft tissues, including deformities and amputations.
Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Spine Disorders, Scoliosis, Ruptured Discs, Carpal Tunnel, Degenerative disc disease and more Qualify
This category of impairments comprises conditions impacting a person’s vision, hearing, and speech
Loss of Speech, vision or hearing efficiency, Disturbance of labyrinthine-vestibular function are some of the conditions qualifies under this category
Respiratory illnesses that cause difficulty exhaling, inhaling, or lung capacity concerns are eligible for certification in this category.
Asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, lung transplant, COPD, chronic respiratory disorders, respiratory failure and more qualifies under this category
Any disorder that affects the proper functioning of the heart or the circulatory system qualifies under this category
Heart transplant, failure, recurrent arrhythmias, Ischemic heart disease, congenital heart disease, Peripheral arterial disease and more qualifies under this category
Digestive system disorders include issues and diseases that affect different elements of your digestive system.
Chronic liver disease, liver transplantation, short bowel syndrome (SBS), Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Intestinal hemorrhaging and more qualifies
The genitourinary system, which comprises the urinary and reproductive systems, is affected by genitourinary diseases.
Chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, kidney transplant, renal osteodystrophy, anasarca, anorexia, Fluid overload syndrome and more qualifies.
These conditions predominantly impact the blood and blood-forming organs.
Myelodysplastic syndromes, bone marrow failure, aplastic anemia, granulocytopenia, thrombosis, hemostasis and more Qualifies
Skin disorders that may result from hereditary, congenital, or acquired pathological processes qualifies under this category
Ichthyosis, photosensitivity, burns, chronic infections of the skin or mucous membranes, dermatitis, and more qualifies
An endocrine disorder is a medical ailment that results in a hormonal imbalance.
Disorders of Thyroid, Adrenal, Pituitary or pancreatic gland, diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia and more qualifies under this category
Congenital diseases are structural or functional defects that arise during prenatal life. Also known as birth defects.
Down syndrome, perinatal infectious diseases, chromosomal disorders, Tay-Sachs disease, Trisomy X syndrome and more qualifies
Neurological disorders are diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, affecting brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves.
Epilepsy, brain tumors, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord/brain, injuries, Parkinson’s, and more qualifies.
Mental health disorders refer to a wide spectrum of mental health issues characterized by disturbances in mood, thinking, and behavior.
Neurocognitive disorders, schizophrenia, depressive, bipolar, Intellectual , anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, Autism, Eating disorder and more qualifies
Cancer is a collection of disorders characterized by abnormal cell development and the ability to infiltrate or spread to other regions of the body.
Lung cancer, Kidney cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, Intestinal cancer, bone marrow transplant, pancreatic cancer and more qualifies.
These disorders are caused by compromised immune system leading to host of medical issues
HIV, Lupus, Arthritis, Scleroderma, autoimmune disorders, connective tissue disease, vasculitis, Immune deficiency disorders and more qualifies
Mechanical trauma, exposure to heat or cold, electrical discharges, pressure fluctuations, and radiation are all examples of physical injuries.
Traumatic brain injury, peripheral nerve injuries, neck injury, spinal Injury, vertebral fracture, amputation, and more qualifies
These disorders involve bones, major joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, or other soft tissues, including deformities and amputations.
Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Spine Disorders, Scoliosis, Ruptured Discs, Carpal Tunnel, Degenerative disc disease and more Qualify
This category of impairments comprises conditions impacting a person’s vision, hearing, and speech
Loss of Speech, vision or hearing efficiency, Disturbance of labyrinthine-vestibular function are some of the conditions qualifies under this category
Respiratory illnesses that cause difficulty exhaling, inhaling, or lung capacity concerns are eligible for certification in this category.
Asthma, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, lung transplant, COPD, chronic respiratory disorders, respiratory failure and more qualifies under this category
Any disorder that affects the proper functioning of the heart or the circulatory system qualifies under this category
Heart transplant, failure, recurrent arrhythmias, Ischemic heart disease, congenital heart disease, Peripheral arterial disease and more qualifies under this category
Digestive system disorders include issues and diseases that affect different elements of your digestive system.
Chronic liver disease, liver transplantation, short bowel syndrome (SBS), Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Intestinal hemorrhaging and more qualifies
The genitourinary system, which comprises the urinary and reproductive systems, is affected by genitourinary diseases.
Chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, kidney transplant, renal osteodystrophy, anasarca, anorexia, Fluid overload syndrome and more qualifies.
These conditions predominantly impact the blood and blood-forming organs.
Myelodysplastic syndromes, bone marrow failure, aplastic anemia, granulocytopenia, thrombosis, hemostasis and more Qualifies
Skin disorders that may result from hereditary, congenital, or acquired pathological processes qualifies under this category
Ichthyosis, photosensitivity, burns, chronic infections of the skin or mucous membranes, dermatitis, and more qualifies
An endocrine disorder is a medical ailment that results in a hormonal imbalance.
Disorders of Thyroid, Adrenal, Pituitary or pancreatic gland, diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia and more qualifies under this category
Congenital diseases are structural or functional defects that arise during prenatal life. Also known as birth defects.
Down syndrome, perinatal infectious diseases, chromosomal disorders, Tay-Sachs disease, Trisomy X syndrome and more qualifies
Neurological disorders are diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, affecting brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves.
Epilepsy, brain tumors, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord/brain, injuries, Parkinson’s, and more qualifies.
Mental health disorders refer to a wide spectrum of mental health issues characterized by disturbances in mood, thinking, and behavior.
Neurocognitive disorders, schizophrenia, depressive, bipolar, Intellectual , anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, Autism, Eating disorder and more qualifies
Cancer is a collection of disorders characterized by abnormal cell development and the ability to infiltrate or spread to other regions of the body.
Lung cancer, Kidney cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, Intestinal cancer, bone marrow transplant, pancreatic cancer and more qualifies.
These disorders are caused by compromised immune system leading to host of medical issues
HIV, Lupus, Arthritis, Scleroderma, autoimmune disorders, connective tissue disease, vasculitis, Immune deficiency disorders and more qualifies
Mechanical trauma, exposure to heat or cold, electrical discharges, pressure fluctuations, and radiation are all examples of physical injuries.
Traumatic brain injury, peripheral nerve injuries, neck injury, spinal Injury, vertebral fracture, amputation, and more qualifies
The SSA Blue Book cannot feasibly encompass an exhaustive list of all potential medical conditions and illnesses that might manifest as long-term disabilities. Notably, many common impairing conditions like diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia, though significant impairments, are not featured as listed impairments in the Blue Book but they can still be approved. However, when your medical condition isn’t explicitly mentioned, it becomes crucial to align with the SSA’s established criteria for determining disability, as outlined above.
Furthermore, it is imperative to establish that your condition holds comparable severity to those outlined in the Blue Book. The ensuing general guidelines are of significance:
Still Have Questions?
Contact us today—we’re here to help you get the support you deserve.
Explore our SSDI resources, including the application checklist and guide, and use our SSDI calculator and quiz to estimate your benefits.
