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Common conditions that usually qualify for disability coverage

On Behalf of | Jan 7, 2019 | Firm News

Like most residents of St. Louis, you work hard for the life you have. Still, few things can stop you in your tracks faster than a serious injury or illness. If you have developed a medical condition, you may not be able to work and provide for your family. Fortunately, you may qualify for disability payments under the federal Social Security system.

Whether you meet the requirements for Social Security disability benefits likely depends on a complex legal analysis. Nonetheless, if you have a listed condition, it may be easier for you to prove you qualify. If you can provide documentation about your injury or illness, you may meet the minimum requirements for receiving disability payments.

Listed conditions 

The human body is susceptible to a variety of illnesses, and it can sustain various injuries. Not all medical conditions, however, qualify for disability coverage. That is, you must have a severe impairment to your ability to work. To help determine eligibility, the Social Security Administration uses a reference manual. This book lists common conditions that automatically qualify an individual for coverage. Here are some of them:

  •         Respiratory disorders, such as asthma or COPD
  •         Immune system conditions, like AIDS or Lupus
  •         Musculoskeletal injuries, such as chronic back pain
  •         Cardiovascular illness, like heart disease
  •         Mental conditions, such as schizophrenia
  •         Cancer
  •         Blood disorders

While this list is not exhaustive, it does include many conditions that typically allow an individual to qualify for disability payments.

Similar conditions 

If the Social Security Administration’s reference guide does not list your medical condition, you may still pursue payments for your disability. For unlisted conditions, you typically must show your symptoms are equivalent to those of a condition from the reference manual. As such, if you plan to pursue disability benefits, you likely want to seek treatment for your condition and gather extensive documentation about its symptoms and effects.

While you may prefer to go to work every day, a medical condition may prevent you from working. If you can show the Social Security Administration lists your condition in its reference manual, you may have an easier time qualifying for disability benefits. If the manual does not reference your illness or injury, however, you must also understand listed conditions to know whether to pursue payments for a different condition.