Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program intended to help people who have become disabled and are unable to work a normal job for at least 12 months. It provides financial assistance for as long as the person needs, either until they have recovered, or potentially for the rest of their lives if their condition will never improve.
So, one of the biggest questions people have is what the Social Security disability conditions are, and which ones are most likely to be approved for benefits. To be clear: there is no automatic way to be approved for SSDI. You must apply in any case and provide supporting evidence. A great Waco SSDI lawyer can help you navigate the bureaucracy and improve your chances of succeeding.
However, let’s talk about conditions. In this and the next blog article, we’ll go through some of the most common Social Security Disability conditions that are likely to be approved.
Understanding Social Security Disability Conditions – Part 1
As of writing (September 2023) these are the conditions explicitly mentioned and accepted as part of the SSDI program.
I. Musculoskeletal Disorders
This category covers most conditions that affect the muscles, bones, and joints. The condition must be severe enough to prevent normal work, although they may potentially stem from any cause.
Some of the common claims under this category include:
- Severe soft tissue injury, such as skin loss or severe burns
- Spine disorders, including fractures or osteoarthritis
- Major disabling bone fractures
- Amputations
II. Sensory and Speech Disorders
Any disability that severely impairs the senses, or your ability to speak, will likely qualify for SSDI. This could include:
- Blindness
- Severe loss of vision, worse than 20/200
- Deafness, potentially mitigated by implantation devices
- Any loss of speech capability
III. Respiratory Disorders
Virtually any condition which severely impacts a person’s ability to breathe, or causes them to rely on external breathing machinery, is recognized by the SSDI system. For example:
- Chronic asthma or bronchitis
- Cystic fibrosis or similar hereditary disorders
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Post-lung transplant recovery
- Any respiratory failure that requires extended use of breathing machinery
IV. Digestive System Disorders
There is a wide range of digestive system issues which can severely impact a person’s ability to work. Be aware, these will need to be extensively documented and may require specific qualifications.
- Chronic liver disease
- Post-liver transplant recovery
- Inflammatory bowel diseases / IBS
- Short bowel syndrome
- Intestinal hemorrhaging which requires blood transfusions
- Severe weight loss due to digestive disorders, with BMI less than 17.5%
Need Help With SSDI? The Second Chance Lawyer is Here!
We’ll continue the list of Social Security Disability conditions in the next article. In the meantime, if you believe you qualify for SSDI benefits but need help, or have been rejected in the past, Merryl Jones is here to help! The Second Chance Lawyer specializes in helping people in the Waco area receive the disability benefits they deserve.
