 SSDRC What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI? If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits? How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability Status Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts |
How Will Social Security Disability or SSI Look At My Case If I have More Than One Disabling Condition?How to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits Social Security considers all of your disabling conditions when they make a medical disability determination. It does not matter whether you have one or more than one disabling condition. In fact, Social Security is more concerned about how your disabling condition, or a combination of conditions, affects your ability to perform substantial work activity than the conditions themselves. The disability examiner assigned to your disability claim must first determine if you have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment (s). This can only be done through objective medical evidence from an acceptable medical source (i.e. a licensed physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.). Social Security does not consider a chiropractor to be an acceptable medical source, although they will consider any objective medical tests contained in their records. Once the disability examiner determines that you have a medically determinable disabling condition (s), they must evaluate the severity of your condition or conditions. At this point, your disability claim will be approved for benefits if your disabling condition (s) meet or equal the criteria of a Social Security medical impairment listing (in the blue book, also known as the social security disability list of impairments). Unfortunately, few disability claimants actually meet or equal the strict criteria of an impairment listing. If your condition or conditions do not meet or equal the criteria of an impairment listing, your disability claim still has a chance of being approved through a medical vocational allowance. Medical vocational disability determinations take your age, education, past work, and residual functional capacity (residual functional capacity is what you are able to do in spite of the limitations of your disabling condition or conditions) into consideration. The disability process involves an evaluation of your ability to perform substantial work activity (Social Security determines a monthly earnings amount that it considers to be substantial gainful activity or SGA) as well as an evaluation of your medical and/or mental conditions. Disability examiners must determine whether or not you can perform any of your past relevant work (work that lasted for three months or more, in which you earned substantial earnings, and had time to learn the job) considering your residual functional capacity. If they find you unable to perform any of your past work, they must also determine if you are able to perform other types of work considering your age, transferability of your job skills, residual functional capacity, and education. You can only be found disabled under Social Security guidelines if you are unable to do any past work, or any other work at a substantial gainful activity level because of the limitations imposed upon you by your disabling condition(s). 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page Individual Questions and Answers SSD and SSI are Federal Programs The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here: Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials |