This information is intended to shed some light on the SSD SSI disability evaluation process as it relates to claimants with loss of visual acuity, low vision, loss of visual efficiency, and loss of peripheral vision. It may benefit disability claimants with representation, as well as claimants who are not represented by a lawyer or non attorney representative. |
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As with any physical or mental impairment, an applicant with impaired vision who applies for federal disability benefits (social security disability or SSI) may be approved on the basis of meeting or equaling a "listing", or may be approved on the basis of a medical vocational allowance. The listing book, of course, provides the specific approval criteria for a number of known impairments. Not every medical condition is addressed in the listing book (also known as the blue book), and not every condition for which approval criteria is set forth in the listing book is specifically identified by name. In the case of vision impairments, there are "practically" (*See note below) no listings that specifically address one or more conditions, such as low vision, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Instead, the listing book focuses on the measurable loss of visual ability that may result from any number of medical conditions. To qualify for social security disability or SSI on the basis of a vision impairment, there are three listings in the Social Security Administration's impairment listing manual which may generally apply to most claims involving loss of vision. These listings deal with: 1. Remaining visual acuity in the better eye (listing 2.02); 2. The level of peripheral field contraction in the better eye (listing 2.03); 3. Loss of visual efficiency in the better eye (listing 2.04). What does "in the better eye" mean? The phrase better eye means this: for a disability claim involving a visual allegation, the social security administration will evaluate a claimant's medical records and consider the claimant's residual (remaining) visual acuity and peripheral vision in both eyes. However, if one of the claimant's eyes meets the approval requirements of a listing and the other eye does not (this would be the better eye), the claimant will not be approved on the basis of meeting a listing. For example, listing 2.02 (this is the listing regarding visual acuity and this is also the listing that most vision impairment claims will receive consideration under) states that, for an individual to be approved on the basis of this listing, the remaining vision in the better eye, after best correction, must be 20/200 or worse. Translation: if a disability claimant's vision in both eyes, after glasses or contacts are worn (.ie. best correction), is still worse than 20/200, the claimant will qualify for disability under listing 2.02. However, if the vision in just one eye is this bad, and the vision in the other eye is just slightly better, the claimant will not be approved for benefits under this listing. However, when a claimant cannot be approved on the basis of meeting a vision impairment listing, this does not mean that they cannot be approved for disability benefits. It simply means that for an approval to be made, it must come in the form of a medical vocational allowance. The definition for a medical vocational allowance can be found on this page: How do you qualify medically for social security disability or ssi disability benefits ? Note regarding additional vision impairment listings: Complete homonymous hemianopsia, defined as the loss of half of the field of vision on the same side in both eyes (a condition that is associated with traumatic brain injury and stroke). is given its own listing (listing 2.05), but this listing is actually evaluated under the specifications of listing 2.04. Total bilateral ophthalmoplegia (defined as complete or partial paralysis of the extraocular muscles of the eye) is also given its own listing, listing 2.06. Listing 2.06 does not list its own additional approval criteria. However, the listing title speaks for itself. To qualify for disability on the basis of this vision impairment listing, a claimant would have to suffer complete motor nerve paralysis in both eyes. Disability Advocates Help with Claims Free Case Evaluation Social Security Disability and noting functional limitations in records Winning Social Security Disability or SSI benefits |
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