ssdi-help.com | SSA Basic Information | How Social Security Defines Disability

How Social Security Defines Disability

Common Definition

Social Security's definition of disability for individuals applying for Social Security Disability or SSI is the same. It is the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) 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.

Social Security Handbook Definition

The Social Security Administration defines disability in the Social Security Handbook as follows: “We will find that you are not disabled if the medical and other evidence in your case establishes that your impairments(s) is not severe. Your impairments(s) is not severe if it does not significantly limit your physical or mental ability to do basic work activities, such as: sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying handling, reaching, pushing, pulling, climbing, stooping, crouching, seeing, hearing, speaking, understanding, carrying out and remembering simple instructions, using judgment: responding appropriately to supervision, co-workers, and usual work situations: and dealing with changes in a routine work setting.”

The Disability Act Definition of Disabled

The [Disability] Act defines disability as the inability to do any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or more.

Determining Elements of Disability Determination

To be considered disabled the Social Security Administration takes into consideration the seven strengths or exertional demands of jobs and nonexertional demands.

Among the most important elements in determining a disability are:

an impairment (physical or mental limitation) must be a medically determinable using objective medical evidence
the disability must last 12 months or result in death
a severe impairment that prohibits work of any kind

Symptoms vs. Impairments

The following is an excerpt form the 1996 policy interpretation publication. It states the definition of a disability, discusses physical or mental impairment versus symptoms and the link between symptoms and a medically determined impairment.

An "impairment" must result from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be shown by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. The regulations provide that under no circumstances may the existence of an impairment be established on the basis of symptoms alone. Regardless of how many symptoms an individual alleges, or how genuine the individual's complaints may appear to be, the existence of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment cannot be established in the absence of objective medical abnormalities; i.e., medical signs and laboratory findings.

An individual's symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness, or nervousness, will not be found to affect the individual's ability to do basic work activities unless medical signs and laboratory findings show that there is a medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) that could reasonably be expected to produce the symptom(s) alleged.

Once the existence of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) that could reasonably be expected to produce the pain or other symptoms alleged has been established on the basis of medical signs and laboratory findings, allegations about the intensity and persistence of the symptoms must be considered with the objective medical abnormalities, and all other evidence in the case record, in evaluating the functionally limiting effects of the impairment(s).

Severity of Impairment

One of the tests of disability is the severity of the medically determinable impairment. A common dictionary definition of severe is “Causing great discomfort, damage, or distress”.

Severity is considered in step two of the sequential evaluation process. If the impairment is deemed not severe the application is denied. If the impairment is determined to be severe or if no determination of severity is made, the application moves forward in the evaluation process.

The policy governing severity is excerpted as follows:

To be found disabled, an individual must have a link medically determinable impairment, a "severe" physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments that meets the duration requirement. An impairment or combination of impairments is considered "severe" if it significantly limits an individual's physical or mental abilities to do basic work activities; an impairment(s) that is "not severe" must be a slight abnormality (or a combination of slight abnormalities) that has no more than a minimal effect on the ability to do basic work activities.

In determining the severity of an impairment, evidence about the functionally limiting effects of an individual's impairment(s) must be evaluated in order to assess the effect of the impairment(s) on the individual's ability to do basic work activities. The vocational factors of age, education, and work experience are not considered at this step of the process. A determination that an individual's impairment(s) is not severe requires a careful evaluation of the medical findings (the objective medical evidence and any impairment-related symptoms).