Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a sort of need-based disability benefit offered to those with no history of work.
This is why many impaired children and people who are intellectually and emotionally disabled frequently qualify for the Social Security Administration’s disability program (SSA). Along with meeting financial need standards, applicants must also have medical evidence demonstrating they have one of the numerous SSI-qualifying conditions.
Listings in the Blue Book and Disability Benefits
Table of Contents
To qualify for disability benefits on a medical basis, you must have a significant impairment. The SSA’s Blue Book contains a list of conditions that meet the severity level requirements, as well as information on the medical proof required to establish disability.
This booklet explains eligibility requirements to applicants and their physicians, including the exact medical tests and other information that must be included in your medical history. Disability examiners consult the Blue Book when reviewing applicant medical records and when making SSI determinations.
They compare the medical proof and everything other information you offer in your application to the Blue Book entries. Mental diseases, intellectual disabilities, and emotional impairments are all included in Section 12.00 as qualifying conditions for SSI.
Qualifying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) under a different listing
Physical problems or limitations are frequently associated with mental diseases and intellectual disabilities. This means that even if you do not match the requirements for one of the circumstances specified in Section 12.00, you may still be eligible for benefits under another listed condition. For instance, if you were born with intellectual disability AND kidney disease, you may be eligible for compensation under one of the Section 6.00 lists. This section discusses kidney-related conditions.
Identical to a Listed Condition
If you’re applying for SSI, you’re probably asking what circumstances qualify as disabilities. While the Blue Book has lists for dozens of diseases, not all of the SSI-qualifying conditions have their own entry. If your precise disability is not listed, the SSA may still be able to determine your eligibility for benefits by comparing your condition to a different listing’s severity level. In other words, if your illness is “comparable in severity” to one of the specified impairments, you may be eligible for benefits under that classification.
Requirements for Medical Evidence
Each disability listing specifies the degree to which a problem must be severe to qualify medically. Each of the SSA’s 14 major Blue Book sections or chapters begins with information regarding the types of medical tests and other evidence required for each of the SSI qualifying conditions.
These introductions, however, may be difficult to comprehend without the assistance of a physician, as the SSA makes extensive use of medical jargon and terminology. Your doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist can assist you in interpreting this information in order to determine if you are eligible for benefits.
Evaluations of RFCs and SSI
If you are unable to qualify for benefits based on meeting or matching a disability classification, you have the potential to still qualify for benefits based on an RFC or “residual functional capacity” analysis. The SSA examines all of your limits in greater detail during the RFC process to determine if they prevent you from working. If your RFC demonstrates that you are severely disabled and unable to obtain and maintain employment, you may be eligible for SSI. This is true even if you don’t meet one of the regular SSI eligibility requirements.
Submitting an Application for Social Security Disability Benefits
SSI benefit applications must be done in person. During the interview, you provide information to an SSA representative about your medical history, education, previous job, and financial situation. That representative completes your application forms on your behalf, which is often done at the local Social Security Administration office.
A friend, family member, disability advocate, or Social Security attorney can assist you with your claim. You may even bring another individual with you to the interview who will gather information and apply for benefits on your behalf.
The SSA is aware that many people who qualify for SSI require additional assistance with the application process. This is why they allow you to have another person assist you during the application interview; therefore, do not be frightened to apply.