How Is the Listing of Impairments Used in a Social Security Disability Case?

 Posted on March 31, 2021 in Social Security disability

A physical or mental disability can greatly affect a person’s ability to provide for their own needs. If you have been seriously injured or suffer from an illness or other condition that affects your ability to work, disability benefits provided through Social Security can help you address your ongoing living expenses. However, when applying for Social Security disability benefits, you will need to meet a variety of requirements to show that you are in fact disabled. One issue that may arise during the application process or when appealing the denial of disability benefits is whether your condition is included in the Listing of Impairments. Understanding how this listing is used can be crucial to ensuring that you can receive the benefits you deserve.

Conditions Listed in the Social Security “Blue Book”

To be considered disabled and receive Social Security disability benefits, you must have a medical condition that has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months. This condition must have severely affected your ability to work and made it impossible for you to perform substantial gainful activity (SGA).

In Wisconsin, the Disability Determination Bureau (DDB) reviews Social Security disability applications to determine whether a person’s condition qualifies as a disability. The DDB uses a multi-step process when reviewing cases, and one of the most important steps involves determining whether a condition falls into a category that automatically qualifies a person as disabled. These categories are included in the Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments, which is commonly known as the “Blue Book.”

The Blue Book identifies several types of medical conditions that are considered severe enough to prevent someone from performing SGA. Physical conditions include musculoskeletal disorders such as degenerative disc disease, cardiovascular disorders such as chronic heart failure, neurological disorders such as ALS or cerebral palsy, immune system disorders such as HIV, or different forms of cancer. Mental health conditions include anxiety disorders, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, personality disorders, intellectual disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

If your condition is included in the Listing of Impairments, or if it is equivalent to one of the Blue Book’s listed conditions, then you will usually qualify for disability benefits. However, if your condition is not included in the listing, this does not necessarily mean that you are not disabled. In these cases, you will need to meet additional qualifications to show whether you are able to perform work you have done in the past or other types of work that would fit the limitations of your condition.

Contact a Waukesha County Social Security Disability Application Attorney

If you are suffering from a disability, you will want to take the right steps to receive the benefits you need. Attorney Jonathan Pearson can provide legal help throughout the Social Security disability application process, and he will make sure you provide the right information to show that you are disabled. Contact an experienced Milwaukee Social Security disability lawyer at 414-240-4801 to arrange your free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/listing-impairments.htm

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ddb/decisions.htm