If you have a disability as a result of a workplace injury or other cause, you may be able to seek Social Security Disability benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance is not always easy to qualify for, and many people find that they do not have success with their initial application.
One way to improve your odds of an approval of your benefits is to make sure you have your forms filled out and plenty of medical documentation of your medical condition. You can find more about the information you need in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book and Listing of Impairments.
Understanding the Listing of Impairments
The Blue Book Listing of Impairments has two parts for each medical condition it lists. Part A goes over the medical criteria that applied to a specific impairment for adults who are 18 or older. These same criteria are sometimes used to evaluate those under 18 when the medical conditions remain similar at both ages.
In Part B, there is information on additional medical criteria for those who are not yet 18.
What kind of medical evidence do you need to prove your disability?
Medical evidence is the main documentation you’ll need of your disability to prove that you should qualify for benefits. You are responsible for providing this evidence. The Social Security Administration may help some people get medical evidence from those who have examined or treated them in the past in some cases. The SSA will request copies of medical documents from clinics, hospitals or other providers when it’s necessary to do so.
It’s important to provide as much medical evidence of your condition as possible, because this evidence is used to establish that you have an impairment that should be covered. The documentation you provide will also help prove the significance of the impairments faced because of the disability. For example, if you cannot work because of a back injury, documenting your inability to work is vital. You may want to include letters from medical sources as well as past employers or others who know about your condition.
Good evidence goes a long way in supporting your claim. Understand the Blue Book, so you can get a good start on your claim.