What Impairments Are Ineligible for Social Security Disability?

A Waterloo Social Security Lawyer Can Help if Your Impairment Does Not Meet ‘Blue Book’ Criteria

The Social Security Administration evaluates illness and injury based on its “Blue Book,” a resource containing listings for hundreds of conditions along with minimum threshold symptoms that must be present. In some cases, an applicant for benefits is truly unable to work due to his or her condition, but does not meet the standards set forth in this book. If you are faced with this issue, working with an Iowa disability lawyer can help you navigate the eligibility process and receive the benefits you need.

Overcome the ‘Blue Book’ Criteria

The ‘Blue Book’ is the starting point – and usually the endpoint – in a disability analysis. The agents will review your medical evidence as compared with the listings in the book and if yours do not meet the criteria, you may be denied. However, the SSA is required to continue the analysis of your application even if your impairment does not meet or equal the listed criteria.

The SSA will make a determination about your residual functional capacity based on all the relevant medical evidence in your case record. This capacity test measures your ability to do past relevant work – which includes any job you have held over the past 15 years. If you are overwhelmed by the notion, an Iowa Social Security attorney can assist you in gathering employment records.

From there, the SSA will further evaluate whether you could adjust to other work in light of your education, age and experience level (regardless of whether “other work” is actually available). The residual function capacity test is often confusing and daunting to applicants, which is why you are best advised to work with a Waterloo disability lawyer through the application process.

Contact Hugh Field Right Away

If you are facing an uphill battle with the SSA and recently received a denial or are having trouble with your application, Hugh can help you through the process.