Using the SSDI List of Impairments to Determine Eligibility

Social Security regulations include a listing of medical impairments organized by body system, that provide a basis for determinations that many individuals are disabled without further evidence of their inability to work or consideration of their age, education, and work experience.  There are fourteen major body systems. Each body system has various conditions and disease subcategories. It is important for your disability claim that you have your doctors define the nature of your condition within the listing of impairments. This will improve your chances of getting a determination that you are disabled as defined by social security rules and regulations.

Disability Determination and Listing of Impairments

Conditions listed on the Listing of Impairments are considered so severe that your eligibility for SSDI or SSI is automatic without any further proof of disability.  In some cases, claimants are considered disabled using the listing of impairments because they have more than one impairment on the list. The combination of the two or more impairments requires a finding of disabled.  It is also possible to be considered disabled even if your condition is not on the list if your condition is severe enough to equal a condition on the listing of impairments. It is important to have detailed medical evidence to prove your claim using the listing of impairments.

An evaluation team reviews your disability claim.  This team consists of a medical or psychological consultant and a lay disability evaluation specialist responsible for making the disability determination.  Decisions made by the evaluation term are appealable in the same manner as any other issue regarding social security disability. 

Do you need a lawyer? 

Social Security regulations and disability issues can be complicated.  Legal counsel experienced in disability issues greatly improves the likelihood that you will have a successful claim. Social Security regulations allow a portion of pass due benefits to be withheld to help pay for attorney's fees.