When the topic of Social Security disability is brought up there are a lot of different words that can be used to describe it, but possibly the most common word is “confused.”
The Social Security disability process is not easily understood, not only for novices, but also for veterans who work in the field every day.
Social Security has its “Listing of Impairments” in which it evaluates whether someone is disabled under its rules and entitled to benefits. It is not enough to simply be diagnosed with one of these impairments, but an applicant must also meet certain limitations as defined by the listings themselves.
The listings for adult impairments fall under 14 different categories. These categories are as follow:
1.0 Musculoskeletal System
2.0 Special Senses and Speech
3.0 Respiratory System
4.0 Cardiovascular System
5.0 Digestive System
6.0 Genitourinary Disorders
7.0 Hematological Disorders
8.0 Skin Disorders
9.0 Endocrine Disorders
10.0 Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems
11.0 Neurological
12.0 Mental Disorders
13.0 Malignant Neoplastic Diseases
14.0 Immune System Disorders
This is how Social Security categorizes the different impairments people may suffer from. Each of these categories has multiple, specific diagnoses, but not only that, the listings also contain how these specific diagnoses limit the functioning of someone who suffers from the impairment.
Because diagnoses and how one may be limited by a specific impairment can be up for interpretation, there usually is a lot of debate of whether someone meets a specific Social Security disability listing and whether they should receive Social Security disability benefits.
It is Social Security disability’s job to determine whether someone actually meets a listing and is entitled to benefits. Because the process is open to a lot of interpretation, many people are denied benefits at the early stages of the process even though they may have a diagnosis that is consistent with Social Security’s listing of impairments.
For more details about Social Security’s listing of impairments click here.
