Reasons for Social Security Disability

The Social Security Administration provides disability insurance for people who are unable to work and children who are unable to function in normal settings. Two kinds of disability insurance are provided: Title II and Title XVI. Title II insurance is for workers who have paid into the Social Security fund for 20 of the previous 40 annual quarters (five years of work over 10 years.) The benefits are based on their income. Title XVI benefits are for people who have not worked to satisfy the 20/40 criteria and receive an amount determined annually by Congress.

Work

• The single most important reason for receiving Social Security disability is the not being able to work. This is different than not being able to do your current or previous jobs. Social Security will determine your physical and mental capabilities and based on its regulations will decide whether you can do your work or other work. The Social Security Administration will not hesitate to deny benefits to someone who can no longer do a job paying $100,000 a year but is able to do work worth $18,000 a year. Prior income has no effect on ability to work, only on benefits if the claim is approved.

The Listings

• Social Security maintains a comprehensive catalog of medical conditions known as the Listings of Impairments. If a person applying for disability has a medical diagnosis of any condition in the listings or is equal to the listings (a determination made by a doctor on the SSA's staff) then the claim will be approved.
  If the claim, however, does not meet the listings but is still determined a severe medical diagnosis, the SSA will find out whether the claimant can do other work or is incapable of fulfilling normal job functions, such as walking, standing, lifting, carrying, using hands and fingers, possibly climbing ladders and stairs and staying on task for up to two hours without a break.

Children

• A childhood disability claim is based on the child's ability to function. Children have to go to school, where they learn, concentrate, interact with other children and take instructions from adults. Just as with adults, a Listings of Impairments covers childhood disability. The SSA will determine whether the child has one of the listed diagnoses, equals a diagnosis or the condition is severe enough to affect the child's ability to function normally.

Compliance

• All claimants must be compliant with doctor prescribed treatments. A doctor's recommendation to taking medications, or get physical or mental therapy must be followed. SSA only allows disability if a claimant's condition equals or meets the listings or is severe enough to prevent with prescribed medication.