The 14 Categories of the SSDI List of Impairments

The Social Security has two lists of impairments, list A for adults and list B for children.  Each of those lists contains fourteen general categories of recognized genre of disability impairments.  The SSDI list of impairments is the same as the general Social Security administration lists of impairments, or, list A and list B.

Fourteen Disability Categories for an Adult

• Musculoskeletal System
• Special Senses and Speech
• Respiratory System
• Cardiovascular System
• Digestive System
• Genitourinary Impairments
• Hematological Disorders
• Skin Disorders
• Endocrine System
• Impairments the Affect Multiple Body Systems
• Neurological
• Mental Disorders
• Malignant Neoplastic Diseases
• Immune System Disorders

A disabled applicant can look up his disability under the disability general category for an adult on List A and then begin his review of the specific types of disabilities encompassed under that category and the medical requirements that are needed to prove that condition and also the level of severity required in impairing the ability to engage in gainful employment to be approved for benefits based on that impairment.

Fourteen Disability Categories for a Child

• Growth Impairment
• Musculoskeletal System
• Special Senses and Speech
• Respiratory System
• Cardiovascular System
• Digestive System
• Genitourinary Impairments
• Hematological Disorders
• Skin Disorders
• Endocrine System Disorders
• Impairments Affecting Multiple Body Systems
• Neurological
• Mental Disorder
• Malignant Neoplastic Diseases
• Immune System Disorders

A disabled applicant can look up his child’s disability on List B under the disability general category for a child.  The categories are very similar but include categories such as Growth Impairment which along with Mental Disorders category will detail disabilities diagnosed in infants, toddlers and young children which continue on into adulthood.  An applicant’s parent can review the specific enumerated disabilities of each category and understand the medical requirements that are needed to prove that condition in a child and also the level of severity of the disability impairing the child's ability to function in daily life activities. 

Getting Legal Help

If you or your child would like to file an application for disability benefits with one or more of the Social Security programs it is important to review the requirement needed to evidence the impairment on the SSDI List of Impairments provided by Social Security.  If you are unsure if you or your child would be eligible for disability benefits it would be helpful to discuss the disability application with a disability attorney.  An attorney can provide valuable guidance through the application process.  An attorney can provide valuable guidance throughout the application process and help to cut down the time prior to receiving benefits by going over the application to make sure there are no elements that would result in a primary denial of benefits and entry into the world of Social Security appeal processes.