Does My Impairment Qualify Me for Social Security Disability Assistance?
Benefits from the office of Social Security can be a lifesaver if you find yourself suffering with a disability. However, not all who suffer qualify for assistance. Before you apply, you should learn all you can about the rules governing this program. To start, look at what impairments qualify as disability.
Disabilities by Age
Currently, conditions that qualify for disability differ for those under and over eighteen years of age by some degree. Impairment of ones of ability to function plays heavily into the evaluation. In adults, your issue must prohibit you from any gainful activity, plus most on the list are permanent conditions or expected to result in death. For children under the age of 18 the impairment must be severe enough to cause limitations to their ability to function. In both cases the condition must be continuous for at least 12 months.
Two Lists of Impairments: Parts A and B
The list under Part A mostly pertains to the evaluation of adults 18 and over, and what adult conditions can qualify for disability. This medical criteria must apply to their condition to evaluate impairment. In cases where the disease behaves similarly in children, these criteria can be used on their evaluation, as well.
Part B contains an impairments list to use in evaluation those under 18. Its role is to provide guidance around disease and conditions unique to childhood, or that behave differently in the populations.
Part A: Adult Medical Criteria
| MEDICAL CRITERIA | EXAMPLE CONDITIONS | MEDICAL CRITERIA | EXAMPLE CONDITIONS | |
| Musculoskeletal Disorders | Major join abnormality; Amputation; Pathological Fractures | Skin Disorders | Ichthyosis; Bullous Diseases; Dermatitis | |
| Special Senses & Speech | Statutory Blindness; Loss of Speech; Acute Hearing Loss | Endocrine Disorders | Pituitary Gland Disorders; Thyroid Glad Disorders | |
| Respiratory Disorders | Chronic Bronchitis; Emphysema; Pulmonary Fibrosis | Multiple System Congenital Disorders | Non-Mosaic Downs Syndrome | |
| Cardiovascular System | Chronic Heart Failure; Myocardial Ischemia | Neurological Disorders | Epilepsy; Cerebral Palsy; Multiple Sclerosis | |
| Digestive System | Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Hepatic Liver Dysfunction; Inflammatory Bowel Disease | Mental Disorders | Schizophrenia; Depressive & Bipolar Disorders; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | |
| Genitourinary Disorders | Chronic Kidney Disease; Nephrotic Syndrome | Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases) | Skin Cancer; Lymphoma; Leukemia; Breast Cancer; Lung Cancer | |
| Hematological Disorders | Both Non-Malignant & Malignant Hematological Disorders | Immune System Disorders | Systemic Lupus; Polymyositis |
Part B: Childhood Disability for Those Under 18
The list in Part B for disorders follows the same impairments, as listed in Part A. Certain diseases and disabilities exist in children under the age of 18 make Part B necessary, and you can find a breakdown of those differences here. The biggest difference between Parts A and B:
| MEDICAL CRITERIA | EXAMPLE CONDITIONS |
| Low Birthrate & Failure to Thrive | This is measured by BMI, Growth Measurements and Developmental Delays |
My Health Issue is on the List. Now What?
So you’ve found your impairment or that of your loved one on the list, that means you’ll get disability. Right? The answer is that meeting the criteria to apply is only the first step of a multi-step approval process. Conversely, if you do not find your issue on one of the lists, don’t give up. In this case you may need an expert to guide you straight to the second step and apply other rules to your claim. Hiring a Social Security disability lawyer to represent your interests could be a wise investment at this point. Contact the attorneys at Wykoff & Sikes for more information.
