Types of Conditions

What Constitutes a Disability?

Social Security benefits are usually difficult to obtain because their definition of disability is strict. It is generically called total disability. To be accurate, it is the “inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months”.

In other words, eligibility is based on being disabled from all work, not just a person’s past work. That is softened somewhat by some vocational criteria involving age, education and lack of some work skills.

The general criteria includes:

  • You cannot perform the job/work that you did before you became disabled
  • It is decided that you are unable to adjust to a new job/working environment due to this disability
  • This disability is deemed to last over a year or result in your death

At William C. Bernhardi Law Offices, PLLC, our job is to help you build your disability case so that you can have a much greater chance at receiving the benefits that you deserve. 

Possible Conditions

Here are just some possible conditions or impairments that may be deemed as full disability. To view the full adult list as provided by the US Social Security Administration, please click here. A link to the list of childhood conditions can be found here

The law says “any medically determinable impairment”. Here are just some of the many conditions or impairments that may be considered disabling:

Possible Conditions

  • Amputation
  • Speech Loss
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Heart Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic Liver Disease
  • Nephrotic Syndrome
  • Problems with Bone Marrow Failure
  • Severe Burns
  • Circulatory disorders
  • Spinal disorders
  • Arthritis
  • Systemic Lupus
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Types of Cancer
  • HIV
  • Endocrine Disorders
  • Non-Mosaic Down Syndrome
  • Cerebral Palsy

If you are in the process of filling out your claim or are trying to begin an appeal, please call William C. Bernhardi Law Offices, PLLC. We will do everything that we can to secure your benefits.