Who Is The Blue Book For
While the Blue Book can give those who are applying for social security benefits a quick way to check to see if their condition allows them to qualify for benefits, the main function of the Blue Book is to inform healthcare providers on the evidence they will need to collect in order to best support the case for an individual to be approved for disability benefits. For this reason, the Blue Book contains a lot of technical medical language that may be confusing or daunting to the average reader. If you are looking it over and seem confused, dont worry this book is meant to be interpreted by a healthcare provider or caregiver.
Aside from your doctor, one of the best tools that you can have by your side when attempting to interpret the Blue Book is an experienced social security disability lawyer. SSD lawyers are professionally trained to handle social security claims, and furthermore, they have the experience necessary to know what the SSA is looking for specifically. Thats why its so important to find a disability lawyer early in the application process so that you dont hamper your chances of receiving benefits with an incomplete application.
Working With Disability Lawyers In Winston Salem
The list does not contain every disabling condition that qualifies for disability benefits. If you are living with a medical condition that doesnt fall into the above categories, you can also qualify for SSDI benefits if you meet the programs definition of disability.
Working with Collins Price disability lawyers in Winston Salem makes the claims process as easy as possible for you. Below, you can find links to more information about common impairments we see frequently in our practice. Keep in mind, this is not a complete list and we routinely work with claimants with all kinds of impairments.
To discuss your Social Security Disability claim, please schedule a free consultation by calling us at or toll free at . You can also complete our Contact form at the bottom of this page and well be in touch promptly.
Getting Disability Benefits For Cancer Patients
A cancer diagnosis can be frightening for patients and their families, but whether a patient will qualify for Social Security disability benefits is determined by how the condition affects the person’s capacity to work. To be sure, life-threatening and terminal cancer diagnoses usually result in the automatic and, in some cases, hastened award of disability benefits. However, cancer that has not metastasized beyond the localized lymph nodes, has responded to therapy, or has been surgically removed may, in some situations, allow an individual to return to work in the eyes of Social Security. It might be difficult to obtain disability compensation in certain situations. However, it is possible that even effective cancer therapy might result in significant residual restrictions that would qualify an individual for disability benefits.
The Social Security Compassionate Allowance
The Social Security Compassionate Allowances List is a collection of major medical issues, many of which are life-threatening, that automatically qualify a Social Security application for expedited payment approval. Instead of waiting up to a year for a disability hearing, a client diagnosed with a diagnosis on the CAL can sometimes obtain disability approval within a few weeks.
Getting SSDI Benefits for Cancer according to Blue Book Listings
What if you don’t qualify for Blue Book Listing?
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How To Find And Use The Blue Book
It could be helpful for your disability claim to become familiar with the disability listings referenced in the Blue Book. You can find the Blue Book listing of impairments on the SSA website.
For Part A, Adult Listings, some of the most commonly used listings include:
- Listing 11.14, Peripheral neuropathy
- Listing 12.04, Mood disorders
For Part B, Child Listings, some of the most commonly used listings include:
- Listing 112.10, Autism spectrum disorder
- Listing 112.11, Neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD
To meet the listings, you’ll generally need to show that your impairment will last for at least 12 months and that you meet all the given medical requirements for the listing.
How Much Is Disability In Nc
Unlike workers compensation and other forms of government payment, your SSDI benefits are not determined by the state you live in. There are two major factors that infuence the amount of Social Security disability benefits you receive. These factors include your average lifetime earnings under Social Security, and your current financial situation.
In addition to the above, inflation, cost-of-living estimates, pension-based earnings and other changes to public disability benefits impact the amount of disability benefits. Because of this and because each claimants work history is unique, their SSDI benefit amount is different. For 2022, the average SSDI benefit for an individual is $1,358 per month.
In contrast, SSI disability benefits are needs-based and have set maximums. The maximum SSI monthly benefit amount for an eligible individual in 2022 is approximately $841. Eligible couples can receive a maximum monthly payment of $1,261 and essential persons like a caretaker can receive $421. To determine how much you could receive, please use the Social Security Administrations online benefits calculator.
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Listing 500 Digestive System Disorders
Digestive System Disorders specifically refer to disabilities that affect your digestive tract. While there are many digestive orders that are listed in this section that can qualify, there is a very specific set of requirements and a complex set of medical criteria that you must meet in order to receive benefits for this category. Some of the more common conditions that qualify for this category are Chronic Liver Disease, Crohns Disease, Liver Transplants, Hepatitis,Inflammatory Bowel Disease as well as Gastrointestinal Hemorrhaging that requires blood transfusions. View full Blue Book List here
How Does The Rfc Assessment Process Work
Your local SSA field office will ensure your Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income application meets all the technical criteria to qualify for benefits. Only once your claim passes this step in the process will the SSA forward your file to Disability Determination Services to see if you meet the definition of disabled. Disability Determination Services will request all of your medical records, test results, and other documentation from your medical providers. Then, the examiner will check to see if you meet the criteria under any applicable impairment listing in the Blue Book. If you do not, they will evaluate your eligibility for benefits based on an RFC assessment.
The goal of the RFC assessment is to determine the work tasks you are still capable of doing despite your impairments. The assessment scores you based on your ability to work in heavy, medium, light, sedentary, or less-than-sedentary jobs, in which environments, and for how long. It also looks at the jobs you held in the past and the jobs you qualify to hold, and whether or not you can do these jobs based on your current condition.
In most cases, a doctor completes the RFC assessment. This may be your primary care physician or a doctor from Disability Determination Services. In some cases, the SSA may ask you to attend a consultative medical exam with a doctor. The SSA will cover the cost for this exam, and the doctor will complete the assessment.
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Listing 300 Respiratory System Disorder
Respiratory System Disorders refer to disabling conditions that cause breathing problems and prevent proper lung function including conditions like COPD, emphysema, tuberculosis and pneumonia. This category will also include some cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer, as well as conditions such as sleep apnea and cystic fibrosis. To determine if you have an eligible disability under this category, the SSA will make their decision based on the results of breathing tests administered by a health professional that determine how restricted airflow is through the respiratory system. Respiratory conditions that are not consistent, such as asthma, will be evaluated based on how frequently an individual is affected by the episodes and how they interfere with their ability to work due to the need for medical attention. View full Blue Book List here
Have You Or A Loved One Been Denied Social Security Disability Benefits
If you or a loved on has been denied Social Security Disability Benefits you need to speak with an experienced SSD attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Virginia Beach office directly at 757.490.3500 to schedule your free consultation. We have offices throughout Virginia including Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk and Suffolk.
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Evaluating Medical Conditions For Disability
The listing of impairments in the SSAs Blue Book describes disabling medical conditions and the criteria under which each ailment may qualify for SSDI. The listings include conditions affecting the cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, musculoskeletal and other major body systems, as well as genitourinary impairments, hematological disorders, immune system disorders and malignant neoplastic diseases that may cause impairments that affect peoples abilities to work. Some of the most common Blue Book listings include:
- Crohns disease
The Blue Book also lists conditions such as asthma, herniated discs or degenerative disc disease, fetal alcohol syndrome, various forms of cancer and certain mental illnesses.
What Is In The Blue Book
The Blue Book is broken into two sections, Adult Listings and Childhood Listings . Each has listings with different impairments, or disabling conditions. Each condition listed explains an overview of the impairment, what symptoms or diagnosis qualify, as well what evidence, test results and documentation that is needed to qualify. The conditions that are laid out in the Blue Book are eligible for both Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplement Security Income .
In both the Adult Listings and the Childhood Listings, the conditions are divided into groups based on the major body systems. These include the Musculoskeletal System, Special Senses and Speech, Respiratory Disorders, Cardiovascular System, Digestive System, Genitourinary Disorders, Hematological Disorders, Skin Disorders, Endocrine Disorders, Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems, Neurological Disorders, Mental Disorders, Cancer , and Immune System. You can qualify for more than one listing in the Blue Book.
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If Your Medical Condition Equals A Listing
Even if your condition doesnt exactly match a listing in the Blue Book, you may still qualify for benefits if your impairments are equally severe as a similar listing. The SSA acknowledges that it cant include every variant of a severe disability in the Blue Book and that there are numerous ways to document and diagnose similar illnesses. For example, using a different clinical test to get the same results as a test in the listing.
You may also qualify by having a combination of impairments that add up to the severity of a listed impairment, even if they dont qualify on their own. If the SSA decides that your condition is equally severe to those in the Disability handbook, you will still receive Disability benefits. If youre initially denied, a Disability attorney can help you appeal and argue your case.
Because its impossible to list every disabling injury and illness in a handbook, not every psychological or medical condition can be found in the SSA Blue Book. If youve been turned down for Disability but are unable to work due to a severe medical condition, contact the attorneys at the Disability Help Center by calling 1-888-418-8860 today for a free initial consultation. Well help you fight for the benefits you deserve.
What Are The Categories Of The Blue Book
The Blue Book is categorized into medical groupings that list the different types of recognized disabilities that may be eligible to receive benefits. It is broken up into two parts: Adult Listings and Childhood Listings . While the Blue Book goes into a lot more descriptions on each category, below is a short summary of the medical conditions that are found within the contents. Keep in mind, each of these groups is merely a category and there are a large number of conditions listed within each:
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Listing 200 Special Senses And Speech
Many times, sense and speech issues will not qualify for SSD benefits, however, there are a few exceptions that do qualify. These disabilities include the sudden onset of blindness and/or loss ofhearing, the loss of speech making the individual unable to be heard or understood, and conditions that impair the loss of balance such as Menieres Disease. View full Blue Book List here
Social Security Disability Qualifying Conditions
In order to receive Social Security Disability benefits, a person must have one of the Social Security disability qualifying conditions. Understanding the guidelines and qualifying conditions can be complicated. A Social Security disability lawyer can help people understand if their conditions qualify.
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Ssa List Of Impairments
When evaluating your claim, the SSA uses its Blue Book for specific guidance on disabling conditions. This Blue Book contains detailed listings and grouping of medical impairments. Each listing contains a diagnostic framework for the relevant medical condition, the disabling criteria SSA uses to determine the severity of the medical impairment, and the types of medical evidence SSA expects to see before issuing a favorable decision.
Below is a list of common Blue Book categories disability claimants file under:
How Can You Get Help With The Blue Book
Since the Blue Book contains a lot of complex information about disabilities and their criteria, it can be difficult to decipher. If you want to understand the terms of the Blue Book better, you can consult with a disability advocate also, a physician or medical professional or Social Security representative may be able to help you understand it.
Before filing a claim, we recommend you consult with a disability advocate so that they can help you to get the appropriate medical records to support your claim. An advocate can also help you to understand the terms and requirements of the listings.
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Different Types Of Disabilities
Paul Baker Law Office handles SSDI claims involving a number of different disabilities. Some of the most common types of impairments our firm has dealt with include:
The criteria in the SSA Blue Books Listing of Impairments applies to just one facet of the multi-step sequential evaluation process for SSDI. Yet the presence of an impairment listed here may sufficiently establish an individuals disability if the person is unable to work. The absence of a listing-level impairment does not exclude someone from filing an SSDI claim, however.
What Types Of Disabilities Qualify For Social Security
If you need help proving your disability for an SSDI claim in Kentucky, it is in your best interest to get professional legal help. A knowledgeable lawyer will be able to compile the necessary medical records and other evidence that can help you get your claim approved.
Call the Paul Baker Law Office or contact our firm online today for a completely free consultation and a thorough evaluation of your case.
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How The Ssa Medical Listings Can Help Your Chances
Injuries and illnesses come with a varying degree of severity, so the Blue Book determines how severe the laboratory tests, clinical findings, and symptoms need to be in order to receive an automatic approval. If you dont match a specific listing, you may still qualify through other means, but matching the listing exactly is the only way to gain an immediate approval.
What Is In The Ssa Blue Book
There are three sections to the Blue Book.
General Information: In this section, you will find brief descriptions of the Social Security Disability Insurance Program , Supplemental Security Insurance , and the SSAs five-step process for assessing claims. It also discusses how medical professionals and experts assist the process by providing documentation to support claims.
Evidentiary Requirements: In this section, you will find information about what kind of documentation the SSA will need to make a determination about a disability.
Listing of Impairments: This is the most significant section of the book as it lists the main mental and physical conditions that the SSA considers disabling. They divide the listing of impairments into two parts. Part A covers conditions that may affect adults aged 18 and older. Part B addresses conditions that affect children younger than 18. Within these two parts, the listing of conditions is further separated or categorized by the body systems listed below:
- Cardiovascular system
- Congenital disorders which affect multiple systems of the body
- Digestive system
- Low birth weight and failure to thrive
Each listing contains detailed information about the specific symptoms and effects each of the conditions must cause in a claimant for the SSA to consider you disabled. Also, each listing details medical evidence, such as MRIs, X-rays, and psychological tests, which a claimant needs to provide as evidence.
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Does Your Condition Match A Listing
If your disability is listed, the next step is to determine if your medical condition meets the specific criteria for that condition to automatically qualify for benefits. The listing requirements are often quite complex, so you’ll probably need your doctor’s help to determine if you meet a listing.If you haven’t had the clinical or laboratory tests required in the listing, you can ask your doctor to perform them. Then you’ll need to check to see if your test results meet the requirements of the listing.