Disability Myths #5

 Myth 5: Certain Medical Conditions Obtain Automatic Approval. 

 

The honest answer is no....well, not exactly. 

 


Social Security does selectively pick and define certain conditions that, whenall of the required conditions are met, the individual is approved for benefits. It is not “automatic” but pretty close. These conditions and their requirements are “listed” in a manual used by disability evaluators to initially determine eligibility. While these listed impairments are quite helpful to those who FULLY meet the listed requirements, those individuals are in the extreme minority. The requirements of the listings are so detailed that most individuals with severe and truly disabling conditions do not fully meet these “automatic” disability definitions.

Most of my clients do not fully meet these listings. Yet the vast majority of them are eventually approved for benefits. That should give you an idea of how imprecise these listings are at helping the truly disabled. I suppose, at best, they are useful at finding the sickest of the very, very sick. Nonetheless, the key to an individual meeting a listing or eventually receiving benefits (despite not meeting a listing) is thorough, detailed, and consistent medical treatment records.  

 






George C Piemonte

Martin, Jones, & Piemonte

Board Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability Law

Admitted to the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

NOSSCR Vice President

Website: www.mjpdisability.com


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