What Conditions Qualify for Social Security Disability?

If a severe medical condition prevents you from working, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can provide essential financial support. These are benefits you earned by paying into the Social Security system throughout your career. However, securing these disability benefits is not simply a matter of having a diagnosis. The Social Security Administration requirements are specific and the disability determination process is complex.

Understanding the types of medical conditions that qualify for SSD and how the SSA evaluates them is the first step in building a successful claim. This requires more than just a diagnosis; it demands detailed medical evidence that proves your inability to work.

How the Social Security Administration Defines Disability

The SSA has a strict definition of disability for the purposes of awarding Social Security Disability benefits. To meet the disability eligibility criteria, you must demonstrate that:

You cannot engage in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment. SGA refers to a level of work activity and earnings, with a specific earnings threshold set by the SSA each year.
Your impairment has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months or to result in death.
You have accumulated sufficient work credits for SSDI by working and paying FICA taxes.

This definition focuses entirely on your capacity to work. A severe impairment is one that significantly limits your ability to perform basic work activities, such as sitting, standing, lifting, walking, and concentrating.

Medical Conditions Listed in the SSA Disability Blue Book

The Social Security Administration maintains a comprehensive list of impairments known as the Blue Book disability listings. This resource, formally titled the Listing of Impairments, details the specific criteria for various medical conditions that the SSA considers severe enough to prevent a person from working.

If your condition and the corresponding required medical records match the precise criteria in the Blue Book, you may be found disabled at this stage of the application process. The SSA disability list is organized into categories, including:

Musculoskeletal System Disorders: (e.g., major dysfunction of a joint, spine disorders, amputations)
Cardiovascular System Conditions: (e.g., chronic heart failure, recurrent arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease)
Respiratory Disorders: (e.g., COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis)
Neurological Disorders: (e.g., epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury)
Mental Disorders: (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depressive disorders, PTSD)
Cancers (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)
Immune System Disorders: (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV)

Meeting a Blue Book listing is the most direct path to an approved claim for SSD benefits, but it requires extensive and specific medical documentation.

Common Disabilities That Frequently Qualify for Benefits

While the Blue Book is a key tool, many successful Social Security benefits claims are for conditions that, while severe, may not perfectly match a listing. The focus remains on how the condition limits your ability to function.

Common physical impairments and SSDI claims often involve:

Degenerative disc disease and other debilitating back injuries
Severe arthritis in weight-bearing joints
Heart disease and congestive heart failure
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Neuropathy, especially in the hands or feet
Cancer, particularly with ongoing treatment effects
Fibromyalgia and other forms of chronic illness disability

Mental health conditions for disability are also frequently the basis for a successful claim, including:

Severe depression or anxiety
Bipolar disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Schizophrenia
Agoraphobia or severe panic disorders

A mental health disability is evaluated based on how it impacts your ability to understand, remember, or apply information; interact with others; concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; and adapt or manage yourself.

When Combined Impairments or Functional Limitations Qualify

Many applicants for long-term disability do not meet a specific Blue Book listing but are still unable to work. In these cases, the SSA will assess your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC).

An RFC is a detailed evaluation of what you can still do despite your limitations. It considers both exertional limits (lifting, carrying, standing, walking) and non-exertional limitations (concentrating, following instructions, interacting with coworkers and the public). The SSA will consider the combined effect of all your qualifying conditions—both physical and mental—when determining your RFC.

The SSA then uses your RFC to decide if you can perform any of your past jobs or, considering your age, education, and work experience, if you can adjust to any other type of work that exists in the national economy. If the SSA determines there is no work you can perform, your claim for SSD benefits may be approved.

Check Your Eligibility for Social Security Disability Now

Navigating the disability claim approval process is challenging. Most initial applications are denied, often due to insufficient medical evidence or a failure to properly document functional limitations. A disability denial can lead to a long appeals process, including a disability hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

To successfully secure the SSDI benefits you have earned, you must present a compelling case supported by objective medical evidence. If a severe medical condition is preventing you from working, the experienced attorneys at Chermol & Fishman can help you navigate the complex SSDI claims process. Contact us today by calling at 1-888-774-7243 for a consultation to review your case and discuss your options.