The blue book s official title is disability evaluation under social security, and it contains a wealth of information about disabling impairments and the ssa s criteria to help those applying for benefits. The social security administration ssa maintains a listing of medical impairments known as the blue book that automatically qualify you. As a person ages, discs of the spine gradually weaken, become dehydrated and stiffen. Getting social security benefits by equaling a disability. The blue book is what adjudicators refer to when processing a claim for social security disability benefits. Prior to the year 1999, obesity had its own listing in the blue book. Therefore, your condition may also be assessed under the cardiovascular system 4. The social security administration recognizes hundreds of different illnesses and conditions that qualify an american to receive social security disability. Sleepiness or low energy trouble sleeping recurrent awakenings. The application and related forms ask for a description of the claimants impairment s, treatment sources, and other information that relates to the alleged disability. In order to evaluate the terms of disabilities, the social security administration ssa, refers to what they call the blue book which serves as a manual. Yet social security has removed obesity from its blue book. Social security disabling conditions disability benefits center. Ssa used to allow individuals to qualify for social security disability benefits purely on the basis of morbid obesity.
There is no listing in for obesity and therefore no way to automatically medically qualify for benefits, but this doesnt mean you cant get approved under a blue. Does morbid obesity qualify for social security disability. This edition of disability evaluation under social security, also known as the blue. How someone with chronic migraine can qualify for social.
The ssa s blue book is a list of qualifying medical conditions the organization considers disabling and eligible for benefits. The book breaks up impairments into 14 common categories and each category has its own specifications for qualification. If you need help with your disability claim we are social security disability lawyers who can help so call us at 18775275529. To view a particular condition click on the category you think that medical condition would be in. The blue book is the manual used by the social security administration ssa to define what qualifies a disabling condition for disability benefits. If you are suffering from one of these conditions, then. The ssa will compare your medical records with the standard disability listing for breast cancer that appears in the blue book. Social security disability benefits for a thyroid disorder. I have 3 conditions where medi al records as well as dr completed rfc that meet criteria of blue book for osteonecrosis bone death dr stated i cant walk more than 50 feet without stopping, cant stand longer than 5 minutes, cant use public transportation alone, cant return to old job nor do any type of work. Obesity and social security disability claims youtube. Listing of impairments overview disability claims process video series. You may be eligible for social security disability benefits, but only if it causes or contributes to listed impairments that social security already awards benefits for, or if your obesity severely limits your functioning.
No one can deny that obesity is a looming problem in the united states. In the blue book, the ssa provides a list of impairments and the criteria claimants must meet to qualify for disability benefits. Disorders of the spine, which refers to it as herniated nucleus pulposus. The ssa may also evaluate your limitations based on body systems affected by your copd. Today, however, you cannot qualify for disability benefits on. The blue book is the social security administrations ssas disability. Obesity makes it harder for the chest and lungs to expand, which can compromise the ability of the respiratory system to supply adequate oxygen to the body. If your impairments are similar to a listing in the social security blue book, but they dont meet all of the requirements in the listing, you may be able to receive benefits if your impairment can equal the listing. The ssa has a book which contains a list of medical conditions which automatically qualify for disability benefits. All of the conditions that qualify for social security disability benefits are listed in the social security administrations blue book, and there is no official listing for migraine disease. Obsolete versions of part a, the listing of impairments ssa. Diabetes and social security disability disability. The following sections contain medical criteria that apply to the evaluation of impairments in adults age 18 and over and that may apply to the evaluation of. There are 14 different categories of medical conditions that the ssa uses to distinguish.
However, migraine can be symptoms of other health problems that are listed in the blue book. Book, has been specially prepared to provide physicians and other health. The combined effects of obesity with a respiratory disorder can be greater than the. Obesity may affect the cardiovascular system because of the increased workload the additional body mass places on the heart.
To qualify for social security disability benefits a person must meet the requirements of the listing or prove that they are unable to work. When an applicant has a condition that is listed in the blue book, it is much easier to qualify for benefits than if their disability is not included in the publication. Social security representatives in the field offices usually obtain applications for disability benefits in person, by telephone, by mail, or by filing online. The social security blue book is the social security administrations ssa listing of disabling impairments. Obese adults are those with a body mass index bmi of 30 and over. This essentially means that there are no objective, measurable standards by which the ssa can determine that you are disabled as a direct result of your disability. The combined effects of obesity with musculoskeletal impairments can be greater than the effects of each of the.
Social security disability and morbid obesity disabilitysecrets. The social security administration ssa defines obesity as a chronic and. While social security will still consider an individuals obesity and the extent to which it limits daytoday functioning, in practice, the removal of the obesity listing has made it more difficult for obese. Blue book listing for herniated discs herniated discs are listed under section 1. If you are applying for ssd under a listing, you need to meet or equal the requirements. Disability evaluation under social security blue book september 2008 this edition of disability evaluation under social security, also known as the blue. If your medical records meet the ssa s breast cancer listing, then youre medically eligible for benefits. When your disability application is received, the ssa will determine whether your medical evidence satisfies the requirements for any disorder found in the ssa s listing of impairments the blue book. A social security disability claim can be impacted by obesity. Morbid obesity and disability benefits social security. With such a wide variation of disorders and conditions, the social security administration created a guide for their own representatives and other physicians to determine if an applicant potentially qualifies for disability benefits.
The social security administration created a document known as the blue book, which acts as a disability guide for ssa representatives to reference to while determining if a claimant qualifies for disability benefits. Until 1999, obesity was one of the impairments listed in social securitys blue book, meaning that a person would automatically qualify for disability benefits if he or she met the requirements of the obesity listing. Spondylosis and qualifying for ss disability benefits. The ssa publishes a book that contains a list of impairments, and if you meet the. If it does, youll automatically be approved for disability benefits. Social security separates impairments into 14 categories. This guide, called the blue book, separates disabling conditions into different. To qualify for disability benefits, you will need to meet several requirements listed in section 3. The social security administration ssa defines obesity as a chronic and complex disease that is characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat.
Benefits are awarded based on the severity of the condition which the claimant is suffering from. How to use the blue book to get approved for disability. Obesity and social security disability disability benefits help. While obesity has been removed from the blue book you can still be awarded disability benefits for obesity, if. Social security disability conditions disability care center. Until 1999, obesity was one of the impairments listed in social securitys blue book, meaning that a person would. For the sake of clarity, is not the social security administration, nor is it associated or affiliated with ssa. The ssas impairment listing manual, also known as the blue book, contains a list of these conditions. The rfc form details how your physical, mental and emotional health limits your ability to work. Someone with a body mass index bmi of 30 and over is considered obese, and an individual with a bmi of 40 or more is considered morbidly obese. Obesity, when established by objective medical evidence signs, laboratory findings, or both from an acceptable medical source ams, is an mdi. Sleep apnea can occur due to a rare disconnect between the muscles and the brain, or due to an obstruction of the windpipe during sleep. How obesity is defined for social security disability. It also lists the diagnostic criteria required to get approved for each condition.
This book is called as the blue book and if a claimant has a condition which is a part of this blue book then the claimant automatically qualifies for disability benefits provided he meets those requirements listed in the blue book. Obesity can cause severe health problems that may qualify you for social security. Obesity is a medically determinable impairment that is often associated with respiratory disorders. Social security disability benefits are not granted simply because of obesity. The blue book s official title is disability evaluation under social security. Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by periods of complete inability to control respiratory muscles while sleeping. Claim examiners use this form to evaluate people whose conditions arent listed in the ssa blue book.
For more information, go to our section on how social securitys disability listings work. Bone spurs, or abnormal growths called osteophytes. How to get disability for obesity dag in knoxville tn. Disability evaluation under social security listing of impairments adult listings part a the following sections contain medical criteria that apply to the evaluation of impairments in adults age 18 and over and that may apply to the evaluation of impairments in children under age 18 if the disease processes have a similar effect on adults. This ssr provides guidance on how we establish that a person has a medically determinable impairment of obesity and how we evaluate obesity in disability claims under titles ii and xvi of the social security act. Then scroll down until you find your particular impairment. Gerd and social security disability disability benefits. The blue book lists specific criteria that under which claimants who suffer from a disabling condition can qualify for social security disability. Sleep apnea and social security disability disability. How to qualify for ssd benefits with a herniated disc. This site is a personal, private website that is published, edited, and maintained by former caseworker and former disability claims examiner, tim moore, who was interviewed by the new york times on the topic of social security disability and ssi benefits in an article.
Obesity was removed from the ssa list of disabling conditions blue book in 1999. When evaluating ssd applications the ssa uses the blue book. It enlists the set of documents and impairments necessary to be produced as proof to justify your application. We provide guidance in this ssr on how we establish that a person has an mdi of obesity, and how we evaluate obesity in disability claims. All conditions found in the blue book contain specific medical criteria and symptoms that you must have evidence of. Obesity is a medically determinable impairment that is often associated with disorders of the cardiovascular system. Medical criteria needed to qualify with osteoarthritis. It covers a lot of the recommended medical evidence, as well, and it can be extremely helpful. Obesity was on the list, but the ssa removed it in 1999 because it recognized that many obese people are still capable of working. Revisions to rules regarding the evaluation of medical evidence. Disturbance of this system can be a major cause of disability if you have obesity. The ssa recognizes spondylosis in its blue book under section 1. Ssa published social security ruling ssr 192p, evaluating cases involving obesity on may 20, 2019. If your condition is not listed in the social security administrations bluebook, you may still qualify if your condition prevents you from achieving sustainable gainful activity sga and you.
Less than two years ago the ssa eliminated its blue book listings involving endocrine disorders. This essentially means that there are no objective, measurable standards by. Getting social security disability for obesity in raleigh. The blue book is a master list of all the impairments the ssa deems eligible for disability benefits. Medical conditions for disability approval disability. The american medical association as declared that morbid obesity is a disease.