Will the severity of a condition determine if you can get approved for disability?In a prior post, I mentioned an online discussion that I took part in. One of the participants in the discussion was from England and one of his questions about the U.S. disability system was this: "Surely the help that people are entitled to depends on the severity of the condition?" Related: Severity of a disabling condition What does the Severity of your impairment have to do with Your Disability Claim? What does SSA consider a severe impairment for Social Security Disability or SSI? And the answer to the question is Yes. In the U.S. disability system (the Social Security Disability and SSI programs), the primary factor that determines whether or not an individual will receive disability benefits is severity. In other words, the name of a diagnosed condition is not the preeminent factor. What is more important is the severity of the condition (which can be physical or mental) and how it affects the individual. For Social Security Disability and SSI, how a condition affects an individual is referred to in terms of residual functional capacity (which simply means "what a person can still do even with their condition"). To distill this in the simplest terms, the disability system works like this---To be approved for disability benefits, a person must have a severe condition that prevents them from engaging in past work (one of the jobs they've done in the past) and also prevents them from engaging in a form of other work for a period of at least twelve months. This is how severity is measured and this is how a state of disability is determined by the social security administration. About the Author: Tim Moore is a former Social Security Disability Examiner in North Carolina, has been interviewed by the NY Times and the LA Times on the disability system, and is an Accredited Disability Representative (ADR) in North Carolina. For assistance on a disability application or Appeal in NC, click here. Most popular topics on SSDRC.com Social Security Disability in North Carolina Common Mistakes to avoid after being denied for Disability Tips to Prepare for Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI Advice to Win SSD and SSI Benefit Claims Social Security Disability SSI Questions What is the difference between Social Security Disability and SSI? How to get disability for depression Getting disability for fibromyalgia SSI disability for children with ADHD What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? Social Security Disability SSI Exam tips More Social Security Disability SSI Questions What makes you eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI? Related pages: How to file for disability in Oklahoma OK How does age affect a Social Security Disability or SSI case? Applying for disability based on stroke, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, and fatigue Filing for disability with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy Time to get a scheduled disability hearing date, or court date Can you file for disability with Hypothyroidism? Filing for disability with carpal tunnel syndrome Filing for disability with Post polio syndrome Applying for disability with Schizophrenia Can I get disability for Rheumatoid arthritis? How much money will I get for disability if I get approved? SSI back pay benefits Can a letter from a doctor get you approved for disability? Social Security Disability, SSI, and autoimmune disorders Tips for Getting Disability Approved |
