The claimant's ability to work

The social security administration's definition of disability focuses on a claimant's ability to work. And, for this reason, disability adjudicators (disability examiners at the application and reconsideration levels and administrative law judges at the hearing level) look for evidence of functional limitations when reviewing medical evidence. Specific examples would include a claimant's limitations with regard to the ability to sit, stand, walk, stoop, crouch, reach overhead, lift more than a certain weight or grasp objects.

Unfortunately, most treatment notes and hospital records are lacking in this regard, i.e. they fail to document a claimant's functional limitations, past or present. Yet, this is exactly the type of information that the social security administration is looking for when deciding claims.







For information on Social Security Disability, visit the

Social Security Disability SSI Resource Center




















Additional Resources

Medicaid, medicare, long term care
Choices for long term disability coverage
Cancer and long term disability
CAM defined
Disability resources
Medication resources
Disability Questions