Monday, December 28, 2009
Determination of Disability According to the Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration has developed a five step test to determine if you are disabled according to their definition. When a claim is initially filed, it will go through this five step evaluation process. The five questions to consider in determining whether or not you are disabled according to the strict definition as set out by the Social Security Administration are as follows:
1. Are you gainfully employed?
2. Is your condition severe? (The condition can be mental or physical or both, either way it interferes with your basic activities at work)
3. Is your condition found in their list of disabling conditions? (You can find these online through the Social Security Administration website.)
4. Can you do the work you previously did?
5. Can you do any other type of work? If you can do any other type of work, then you will be found ineligible for disability.
These factors are a checklist to determine your potential eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits. If you are not working then you proceed to step 2 to determine if your condition interferes with work related activities. If it does not then you are not considered disabled. So, overall, you must pass the first 2 criteria before your claim will even be considered.
In summary there are 2 ways to be found disabled under this Social Security Administration checklist:
(1) A finding that the claimant’s impairment meets an impairment described in their listing of impairments; or
(2) A combination of the medical and vocational issues qualifies the claimant for disability.
http://www.LisaGDouglas.com
Lisa Douglas, RN/Attorney at Law. Focus of her law practice is personal injury, social security disability, medical malpractice, products liability, injury and accident claims.
Law Offices of Lisa Douglas
2300 Main St
N Little Rock, Arkansas 72114
(501) 798-0004
Fax: (501) 798-0010
http://www.LisaGDouglas.com
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