Hawk Law Group | April 25, 2024 | Personal Injury

What Are the Top 10 Disabilities?

If you are unable to work because of a disability, you may qualify for Social Security disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two disability programs. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is designed for low-income individuals who cannot work because of a disability but do not qualify for SSDI.

SSDI (Social Security Disability Income) is for workers who become disabled. They must have earned sufficient work credits and paid into the system to qualify for disability benefits.

For both programs, you must meet the definition of disabled. 

The SSA’s definition of disabled is:

  • A mental or physical disability that can be medically diagnosed;
  • That prevents you from engaging in any type of work (i.e., substantial gainful activity); and,
  • That is expected to last for a minimum of one year or result in death.

Many health conditions can result in disabling conditions. The SSA has published a list of health conditions that could qualify for disability. It is referred to as the Blue Book. However, the condition must meet precise standards to rise to the level of disability.

Social Security pays disability benefits to millions of people. The SSA reports the top categories of conditions for people who receive disability benefits. For 2022, the top disabilities include:

1. Injuries

Personal injuries and accidents can result in disabling conditions that prevent someone from working. 

Examples of accidents or circumstances that could cause a disability include:

You may recover economic and non-economic damages by filing a personal injury claim. However, that does not prevent you from qualifying for disability benefits if you have a disabling condition.

2. Psychotic Disorders and Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders may prevent someone from holding a job. A person may experience symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, catatonic behavior, and disorganized speech. The symptoms can prevent someone from functioning socially or being able to perform tasks required for a job.

3. Musculoskeletal System & Connective Tissues

These conditions affect a person’s connective tissues, including bones, ligaments, and cartilage. Conditions in this category are common reasons for disability benefits. They include carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative disc disease, spine disorders, arthritis, ruptured discs, and scoliosis.

4. Neoplasms

Neoplasms are abnormal growths. The growths may be cancerous, pre-cancerous, or benign (non-cancerous). They include fibromas, adenomas, hemangiomas, and lipomas.

5. Mood Disorders

A person who suffers from mood disorders may have sudden and extreme mood swings, which make it difficult to hold a job. Examples of mood disorders include bipolar disorder, persistent depressive disorder, major depressive disorder, cyclothymic disorder, and seasonal affective disorder.

6. Intellectual Disabilities

Cognitive and intellectual impairments can prevent someone from working. They may not have the capacity to learn new tasks. The disorders could also have problems solving problems and using reason effectively. Examples of conditions that might qualify under this category include developmental delays, Down syndrome, and Prader-Willi syndrome.

7. Organic Mental Disorders

This category of medical conditions includes diseases or defects in the body. They include delirium, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and amnesia. The condition could create an immediate disability, or the symptoms could worsen over time, resulting in disability.

8. Other Mental Conditions

Many mental conditions could qualify for Social Security disability. The symptoms of the condition must prevent the person from performing the tasks required for holding a job.

9. Circulatory System

Your circulatory system includes your heart and blood vessels. Diseases and injuries of the circulatory system could result in a disabling condition. Examples include high cholesterol, heart attacks, peripheral artery disease, arrhythmia, and strokes.

10. Nervous System

The spinal cord, brain, nerves, and sensory organs make up your nervous system. A disease or injury affecting the nervous system could result in a disabling impairment. Examples of conditions in this category include multiple sclerosis (MS), Bell’s palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injuries. 

Do I Need a Social Security Disability Lawyer in Augusta, GA?

Individuals can file a disability application with the Social Security Administration without hiring a lawyer. However, the SSA denies a large number of applications because of errors, mistakes, or missing information. If the SSA denies your disability application, you can request a Reconsideration, which means another agent reviews the application.

If the SSA denies the disability application after Reconsideration, you can file an appeal to request a hearing by an administrative law judge. After that, you can ask for a review by the Appeals Council and then file a lawsuit in federal court.

Hiring an Augusta disability lawyer to handle the appeal can give you a better chance of receiving approval for your disability application.

For more information, please contact the personal injury lawyers at Hawk Law Group at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve throughout the Central Savannah River Area and its surrounding areas:

Hawk Law Group – Augusta, GA
338 Telfair St, Augusta, GA 30901, United States
(706) 722 3500

Hawk Law Group – Evans, GA
4384 River Watch Pkwy, Evans, GA 30809, United States
(706) 863 6500

Hawk Law Group – Thomson, GA
146 Railroad St A, Thomson, GA 30824, United States
(706) 361 0350

Hawk Law Group – Waynesboro, GA
827 Liberty St, Waynesboro, GA 30830, United States
(706) 437 9122

Hawk Law Group – Aiken County, SC
156 Laurens St NW, Aiken, SC 29801, United States
(803) 226 9089

We also serve in Edgefield County, SC.