Criteria for Social Security Disability Claimants

People with disabilities who want to apply for Social Security Disability benefits are expected to undergo an evaluation to determine whether one has a disability or not. The following are some of the factors of a disability and the disabled that are looked into.

• Employment and earnings – A claimant who can perform his job at some capacity and gets paid for more than $1,000 a month is considered not disabled by the Social Security Administration. The limited amount per month as of current year is $860.

• Severity – The disability should be “severe,” which means that it must reduce the claimant’s ability to perform basic activities that are needed in work like walking, speaking, hearing, understanding instructions, etc. A severe condition must also or is expected to last for more than a year.

• List of Disabling Conditions – The SSA has a list of disabilities in what they call the “Blue Book.” Disabilities include malignant brain tumors, severe epilepsy, and paranoid schizophrenia among many others. If a claimant’s disability is on the list and he also satisfied the earlier criteria, or if the condition is equally severe to the ones on the list, then he is approved. Those who have a disability not listed on the book have to continue on with the evaluation.

• Ability to Perform Previous Work – Disability must have prevented the applicant from performing the work he had done in the last 15 years. Medical records will be reviewed, or the claimant may have to undergo consultative examination.

• Ability to Perform Alternative Work – Despite disability, some people can still adjust and have a work that is different from what they previously did. If the condition, age, education, and past work experience show that such adjustment is unattainable, then the claimant is disabled.

• Special Situations – Military members who became disabled while on active duty or after October 1, 2001 can enjoy a speedy process of disability benefits application. Legally blind claimants are also allowed a greater wage cap limit.

o Blind – A person is blind if the vision on his better eye cannot be corrected for more than 20/200 or if the visual field is 20 degrees or less even with corrective lens. Additional health problems aside from vision problems are also considered by the SSA. The monthly earning for blind people for 2010 is $1,640.
Consulting the help of attorneys for Social Security Disability can also improve the claimants’ chances of having their application approved in the easiest way possible.