The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines if someone is eligible for benefits based on the type of disability an individual is experiencing. The SSA uses a document called the “Blue Book” to decide whether or not a claimant’s condition is disabling and eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
The SSA will work with the Disability Determination Services office to establish whether or not your claim will be accepted. These field offices often use your medical records from your primary caregiver (or other medical personnel involved) to make their decision, however, if they feel that there’s insufficient evidence to make a claim, they may also arrange a Consultative Examination, which is an examination by the Disability Determination Services (DDS) to get a better read on your medical condition.
The “Blue Book” is broken up into 2 parts: Adult Listings and Childhood Listings for those under 18 years. Both parts have several sections with medical conditions that are used to determine if a disability is eligible for benefits. The book includes a section for adults, a section for children, and also a special section of 88 conditions that qualify a person for Compassionate Allowances, which is a program meant to speed up the application process for those with terminal illnesses.
It’s important to understand that while the “Blue Book” is available for everyone to access online, it is written specifically for medical professionals. For this reason, you should speak with your caregiver about what kind of documentation or evidence the DDS will want to see when reviewing your SSDI application.
Adult Listings (Part A)
Section 1 Musculoskeletal System
Section 2 Special Sense and Speech
Section 3 Respiratory Disorders
Section 4 Cardiovascular System
Section 5 Digestive System
Section 6 Genitourinary Disorders
Section 7 Hematological Disorders
Section 8 Skin Disorders
Section 9 Endocrine Disorders
Section 10 Congenital Disorders that Affect Multiple Body Systems
Section 11 Neurological Disorders
Section 12 Mental Disorders
Section 13 Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Disease)
Section 14 Immune System Disorders
Applying for SSD can be a daunting process – but by getting educated and working with an experienced attorney, you can increase your chances of success and ease the burden on yourself. Complete our free evaluation form to be connected with a local disability attorney to discuss the specifics or your case and your next steps towards receiving benefits.