What Is the Blue Book for Social Security Disability Benefits?
If you’re applying for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, you’ll become familiar with the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Blue Book. The Blue Book, or Listing of Impairments, describes the medical criteria required to qualify for disability benefits. It contains over 100 different qualifying conditions.
The Blue Book prioritizes the most serious and common medical conditions in order to cover as many cases as possible. However, the listings in the Blue Book are far from complete. Plenty of disabling conditions are not included, leaving many potential beneficiaries wondering whether they can even apply for disability benefits.
The fact is, if you’re unable to work due to a diagnosed medical condition, you can qualify for disability. The Social Security Blue Book contains conditions that may equal your own disability in severity. You must be able to prove that your condition is “equal to” an existing listing in order to qualify for benefits.
How Can I Apply For An Equal Listing?
There are three situations in which the SSA allows applicants to apply for an equal listing:
1. Your Impairment Does Not Have A Listing
If your condition doesn’t match any in the Blue Book, you’re still allowed to apply under another listing. Applicable listings will have a similar set of symptoms in terms of seriousness or impact. Through your application, you will have to prove your condition and symptoms are equivalent to those detailed in the Blue Book.
2. You Have A Listed Impairment With Unlisted Symptoms
If your condition is in the Blue Book but you have medically verifiable symptoms that aren’t under that listing, you can still apply for benefits. You must provide both non-medical and medical evidence that substantiates the symptoms and proves equivalence.
3. You Have A Combination of Impairments
The SSA reviews many cases where individuals are living with multiple minor conditions. If you’re unable to perform Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) because of these combined impairments, then you may qualify for disability.
You will need to find a comparable listing to file under and prove your condition severely limits your functional abilities. You must also provide substantial medical evidence to support your claim. It’s up to the SSA to review the information provided and determine whether your symptoms qualify you for benefits.
Contact Our Social Security Disability Attorney
If your condition is equal to a Blue Book listing for disability, you can apply for SSD benefits. This rule applies to both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, filing for disability benefits on your own can be tedious and overwhelming.
It’s important to consult a qualified Social Security Disability attorney in Oakland, CA when applying for benefits. Most initial applications are denied and filing a disability claim can be difficult, especially if your case is complicated.
At Ortega Disability Group, we can assist you through every step of the application process. Our attorneys will gather medical records and other supporting evidence to help prove your claim. We also offer free consultations, so don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule an appointment.
Reach out to Ortega Disability Group and allow us to help increase your chances of being approved for benefits.
