The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a strict definition of disability for SSDI and SSI claims. You can only qualify for disability benefits if you have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in your death. The condition must limit you to the extent that it makes full-time work impossible. The SSA does not use a scale or rating system. It also does not assign percentages or give partial findings, which means benefits are not available for those with partial disabilities.
How Total Disability Works in SSDI and SSI Claims
You must show that your medical condition prevents you from performing full-time work to qualify for SSDI or SSI. Your condition must create serious limits in physical or mental functioning. The SSA will review your treatment history, diagnostic tests, and statements from medical providers to determine whether you are eligible. If you cannot perform past work or adjust to other full-time work, Social Security may find that you have a qualifying total disability.
Why Social Security Does Not Recognize Partial Disability
Unlike workers’ compensation or private insurance programs, Social Security does not award benefits for partial disability. The program only provides benefits to those whose conditions prevent them from performing any full-time work. Even if you have real limits that reduce your work capacity, the SSA will still require proof that performing full-time work is impossible for you.
Medical Evidence That Can Support a Finding of Total Disability
Strong medical evidence is the foundation of any successful disability claim. Social Security looks for detailed records that show diagnoses, ongoing symptoms, and treatment results to determine whether you have a qualifying disability. Notes from doctors, test results, and statements that explain your day-to-day limitations can help. When you have records showing consistent symptoms that keep you from engaging in full-time work, they could support a finding of total disability.
Listed Conditions and Their Medical Criteria
A listed condition is a medical condition that appears in the SSA’s Listing of Impairments, also known as the “Blue Book.” Each listing outlines the symptoms, test results, and clinical findings that must appear in your records for you to match the listing. If your condition matches every requirement, Social Security may find you eligible for benefits without further review. Matching a listing gives you a clear path because the criteria describe limits that point to a presumed inability to perform full-time work.
When Symptoms Do Not Meet a Listing
You can still qualify for SSDI or SSI even when your symptoms do not match a listing exactly. If this is the case, Social Security will review whether your condition or combination of conditions is medically equivalent to the severity of a listed condition. Your records must show symptoms, limits, and test results that indicate the same level of functional impact as the most similar condition in the Blue Book.
Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Assessments
You might still qualify for benefits even if your condition is not an exact match or medically equivalent to a condition in the Blue Book through an RFC assessment. This type of assessment reviews what you can still do despite your medical condition. Social Security looks at factors like your ability to lift, stand, walk, follow instructions, stay focused, and maintain a full-time schedule. If your RFC assessment shows that you cannot perform any work you have done in the past, Social Security then looks at whether you might be able to adjust to new work. RFC assessments account for factors like age, education, and work history.
Contact a St. Louis Disability Lawyer Now
If you still have questions about your SSDI or SSI claim, contact the St. Louis disability attorneys at Crowe & Shanahan now. Our lawyers can review your situation, address your concerns, and explain how we can support your claim from start to finish. Reach out today for your initial consultation and speak with a team that focuses on disability cases every day.