How to Apply for Disability - What medical conditions can you apply for disability for ?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

You may apply for Social Security disability for any medical condition (or conditions) that--

1. Can be considered severe,

2. Prevents you from being able to engage in work activity that could be classified as substantially gainful, and

3. Has lasted twelve months or more, or is expected to last twelve months or more.

Regarding item three, this does not mean that you have to wait twelve months before filing a claim for social security disability or SSI disability since the limiting effects of your condition may be projected by social security.

In other words, if your physical or mental condition prevents you from being able to work, you should file a Social Security disability claim.

Note: If you do not qualify for SSD due to insuffient work credits, it is possible that an SSI disability claim may be filed (the determination of what you can apply for will be made by the social security office where you apply).

What are some of the conditions that individuals file disability claims for? Regarding physical impairments, disability applications often cite the following problems: osteoarthritis and other forms of arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis), heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, MS, irritable bowel syndrome, crohn's disease, peripheral artery disease, various forms of cancer, eye problems, hearing problems, epilepsy, asthma, COPD, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, muscular dystrophy, and meniere's disease.

Regarding mental impairments (psychological and psychiatric), disability applications often include the following problems: bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, low IQ, personality disorder, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, autism, asperger's, and mental retardation.

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Individual Questions and Answers

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Can a mental illness qualify you for disability?

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When Do You Get A Social Security Disability Award Letter And What Does It Say?

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