{"id":60843,"date":"2023-10-16T09:30:21","date_gmt":"2023-10-16T13:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60843"},"modified":"2025-07-03T09:45:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T13:45:13","slug":"what-conditions-qualify-for-disability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-conditions-qualify-for-disability\/","title":{"rendered":"What conditions qualify for disability benefits?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you or a loved one have recently been injured or diagnosed with an illness that impedes your daily life, you might wonder: What medical conditions automatically qualify you for disability? What criteria do you need to meet to get federal disability benefits? Where do you go to start the process?<\/span><\/p>\n

You can begin with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA offers two types of <\/span>Social Security disability benefits<\/span><\/a> for those who meet the agency\u2019s strict definition of \u201cdisabled.\u201d This means you must develop a severe medical ailment on the list of disabling conditions and then meet other criteria for each type of benefit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)<\/span><\/a> is a benefit provided to people who meet the SSA’s criteria for disability, have worked in a job in which you paid Social Security taxes, and are unable to work due to a disabling condition that is expected to last at least one year or be fatal.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)<\/span><\/a> is a benefit provided to people who have low income and resources alongside\u00a0<\/span>\n
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    1. blindness or a disabling condition, OR;<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. are above 65 years old.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      What conditions qualify for disability?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

      Impairments that qualify are divided into two sections: Part A for adults and Part B for people younger than 18. (This is not to be confused with <\/span>Medicare Part A and Part B<\/span><\/a>.) Below, we detail the 14 categories of conditions that qualify for SSA disability in adults and what you may be expected to provide for documentation for each. The disability determination process can be quite lengthy, and appeals are not uncommon. For more information on Part B, consult the <\/span>Social Security Blue Book<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

      1. Musculoskeletal or orthopedic conditions<\/span><\/h3>\n

      Conditions that qualify as a <\/span>musculoskeletal disability<\/span><\/a> include:<\/span><\/p>\n