What is Considered a Disability for Social Security Benefits?
According to the Disability Evaluation Under Social Security disability handbook (used by Social Security disability examiners to make medical determinations), adult disability is described as an inability to perform any substantial work activity due to any medically determinable physical and/or mental impairment/s that are expected to end in death or have lasted or are expected to last at least twelve continuous months.
Of course, you are wondering what kind of disability does Social Security consider to be a medically determinable physical or mental impairment? Social Security defines a medically determinable impairment as any impairment that is the result of anatomical, psychological, or physiological abnormalities. The impairments must be evidenced by medically accepted objective clinical and/or laboratory diagnostic methods. Each physical or mental impairment must be documented by symptoms, signs, and if applicable laboratory findings, not just by an individual’s statement of symptoms.
As you can see, to be considered a disability for Social Security benefits an individual must have a medically proven impairment that is supported by objective medical evidence and that impairment must prevent the individual from sustaining gainful work activity.
How does Social Security determine if an individual’s impairment or impairments prevent them from sustaining gainful work activity? Social Security disability always looks at functionality more than specific impairments. By this I mean that Social Security evaluates what an individual is able to do despite their medical and/or mental impairments (this is known as residual functional capacity) when determining if an individual is capable of sustaining gainful work activity. Consequently, any illness or disease may be considered a disability for Social Security purposes if the impairment or impairments limit the individual’s functional capacity so as to cause them to be unable to perform substantial work activity.
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Social Security Disability Secrets
Social Security Disability Benefits Questions
Of course, you are wondering what kind of disability does Social Security consider to be a medically determinable physical or mental impairment? Social Security defines a medically determinable impairment as any impairment that is the result of anatomical, psychological, or physiological abnormalities. The impairments must be evidenced by medically accepted objective clinical and/or laboratory diagnostic methods. Each physical or mental impairment must be documented by symptoms, signs, and if applicable laboratory findings, not just by an individual’s statement of symptoms.
As you can see, to be considered a disability for Social Security benefits an individual must have a medically proven impairment that is supported by objective medical evidence and that impairment must prevent the individual from sustaining gainful work activity.
How does Social Security determine if an individual’s impairment or impairments prevent them from sustaining gainful work activity? Social Security disability always looks at functionality more than specific impairments. By this I mean that Social Security evaluates what an individual is able to do despite their medical and/or mental impairments (this is known as residual functional capacity) when determining if an individual is capable of sustaining gainful work activity. Consequently, any illness or disease may be considered a disability for Social Security purposes if the impairment or impairments limit the individual’s functional capacity so as to cause them to be unable to perform substantial work activity.
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