The Social Security Administration acknowledges that disabilities impact people differently and present themselves in different ways. They know that some disabilities are invisible. Because of this they use the Blue Book and the requirements that are listed in the Blue Book to evaluate disabilities rather than going by a visual inspection. It doesn’t matter if your disability is visible or invisible. What matters to the SSA is the medical evidence that you provide with your claim.
Can I Qualify For Disability With an ‘Invisible’ Disability?
You don’t need to have a visible disability to quality for Social Security disability benefits. There are many invisible disabilities that qualify someone to be approved for disability benefits. The SSA recognizes more than 200 different physical and mental health conditions as disabilities, even ones that are invisible. Some common invisible disabilities that qualify for Social Security disability benefits are:
- Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety
- Heart conditions
- Deafness
- Respiratory issues
- Joint and muscle conditions
- Blood disorders and diseases
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Some type of cancer
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Chronic pain
- Back or spine conditions
Often people assume that having an invisible injury will hurt their chances of getting Social Security disability benefits but that’s not true. The SSA relies on medical evidence and a specific set of criteria to determine disability. If you have the medical evidence and meet the criteria it doesn’t matter if your disability is visible or invisible.
Eligibility For SSDI
To be eligible for Social Security disability benefits you must have a physical or mental health condition that is listed in the SSA’s Blue Book. Then, you must meet the criteria listed in the Blue Book for that condition. You will need to supply medical evidence including a diagnosis and other medical records like MRIs, X-Rays, blood tests, or other records to show that you meet those requirements.
If you don’t have enough medical evidence or you don’t meet the listing requirements in the Blue Book, you can submit an RFC filled out by your doctor. In the RFC your doctor can describe in detail what your medical symptoms are and exactly how they make it impossible for you to work.
The more medical evidence you have the stronger your case is. The SSA will be looking specifically for medical evidence proving that you are disabled.
Speak With a Disability Lawyer
If you’re not sure whether or not you have enough medical evidence to meet the Blue Book listing for the condition that you have it’s a good idea to speak to a disability lawyer. An experienced disability lawyer can go through your claim with you to help you make sure the claim is filled out correctly. They can also evaluate the evidence that you have and help you figure out if you need more medical evidence to prove that you meet the SSA’s disability requirements.
If you have questions about your Social Security disability claim fill out the free case evaluation to get connected with a personal injury attorney who subscribes to the website and may be able to help with your case.
