5 questions that may decide if you are disabled

The Social Security Administration uses a step-by-step process involving five questions to decide if you are disabled, according to their official website. You must first meet the conditions of one step before you can move on to the next step.

1. Are you working?
If you are working and your earnings average more than $1,010 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled.

2. Is your condition “severe”?
Your condition must interfere with basic work-related activities for your disability claim to be considered.

3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?
The SSA maintains a list of medical conditions that are so severe that they automatically qualify you as disabled. If your condition is not on the list, then the SSA has to decide if your condition is of equal severity to the ones on the list.

4. Can you do the work that you did previously?
The SSA must decide if your condition interferes with your ability to do the work that you did previously.

5. Can you do any other type of work?
The SSA decides if you are able to adjust to other work. The agency considers your medical condition and your age, education, past work experience, and any transferable skills that you may possess.

If you or someone you know needs help with a disability claim, contact the disability lawyers at Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin.