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What is Social Security's Definition of Disability?
Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are only paid to individuals who are totally disabled, as that term is defined by Social Security. The definition is complicated, so this brief summary will provide a broad overview of the way Social Security evaluates a disability claim.
A step-by-step process is used by Social Security to determine whether the applicant meets the disability definition. The first step is to determine if the person is working. If the person is able to earn at least $700.00 per month on a sustained basis, it will usually be concluded that the individual is not disabled, despite the presence of severe medical impairments. Thus, an individual limited to part-time work because of his/her impairments may not be entitled to disability benefits.
If the individual is not working, the next step is to evaluate the medical evidence and determine whether the individual has a severe medical impairment. A claimant whose seizure disorder impairment is completely controlled by prescribed medications (with no side effects from the medications) will be found not to have a severe impairment. If the seizure disorder is not controlled by the medications, or the medications impose significant side effects, then a severe impairment probably will be found to exist. If an individual does not have a severe medical impairment, the claim will be denied at this step.
The next step is to determine if the severe medical impairment meets or equals the "medical listings" for disability. For example, an individual with a seizure disorder who has major seizures more frequently than once a month (despite prescribed treatment) should be found to meet a medical listing. Once a medical listing is met or equaled, the applicant is found eligible for benefits.
However, if the medical listings are not met or equaled, then it must be determined whether the applicant can perform any of the work he/she has done in the past 15 years, in view of the limitations imposed by the impairments. If the applicant is capable of past work, then the claim will be denied.
Many disability applicants have concluded that an inability to perform past work will qualify them for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. This is not the case. The final step is to determine whether the impairments prevent performance of any other work. Social Security must consider the applicant's medical limitations and vocational factors such as age, education and work experience. The applicant will be found disabled only if Social Security concludes that the applicant cannot perform alternative work.
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