SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INFO

Disability Listings & SSA Disability Listings

There are two ways to be approved for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income (SSI):

1. The claimant is found to meet the medical listings.
2. The claimant’s disability does not fit a specific listing, but does meet "the Grids."

The Listings are grouped by the specific disability involved, whether physical or mental or a combination of several physical or mental disorders. Under the appropriate diagnosis is a list of requirements that must be shown before the claimant is considered to be disabled. This allows Social Security’s guidelines to be strictly regulated and uniform, and relatively simple to interpret.

For example, a claimant has Cerebral Palsy. The listing states that the individual meets the listing if any of the following apply:

1. IQ of 70 or less, OR behavior patterns,
2. Abnormal behavior problems (destructiveness, emotional instability, etc.) OR
3. Significant interference in communication (because of speech, hearing, or visual defect) OR
4. Disorganization of motor function.

Although this is a basic version of the listing and is limited in detail, it is fairly straightforward. When a Social Security worker checks the listing in this particular claim, he or she would then look for evidence of one of the above factors. If none can be found, the claimant would be denied. If there is clear evidence of one or more factors, and if the claimant meets the financial and/or work guidelines, the claimant would then be approved—at least, in theory.

This is one reason why Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) and Mental Capacity Assessment MCA (also called RFC-Mental) forms are so powerful—they answer the specific questions that Social Security will be asking. The forms address the listing requirements and supply the evidence much more clearly than medical records or chart notes.

For more information about listings or to see if you qualify, check with a disability representative or Social Security.