Social security looks at all physical and mental impairments the same way. In other words, to be approved for disability benefits on the basis of one or more conditions, the condition must be severe enough that it prevents an individual from being able to perform substantial gainful work activity for a year or longer, or be severe enough that it may possible result in death.

Stress is not a condition that is listed in the SSA blue book; however, when most individuals list “stress” on a claim for disability, they are referring to an anxiety related disorder. Anxiety disorders do have their own section in the impairment listing manual for consideration.

In any event, disability examiners base their determinations on what the medical records have to say about a claimant’s condition, versus what the claimant has to say about their condition. More specifically, examiners use the information contained in the records to rate a claimant’s residual functional capacity, a rating of what a person can still do and can no longer do. Functional capacity ratings including physical ratings and mental ratings.

How are functional capacity ratings used? Essentially, by gauging what an individual is presently capable of doing and comparing it the physical and/or mental requirements of jobs that, in the view of the social security administration, a person might be capable of doing.

Of course, it should be noted that individuals who are filing for disability based on stress or some type of anxiety disorder should attempt to get treatment from a mental health professional. Social Security decision makers generally look for treatment records from a mental health treatment professional that establish a longitudinal history of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Other Posts

Social Security Disability Representative – The Cost and When to get one
Social Security Disability Claim Decisions
Applying for Disability with Fibromyalgia and Fibrofog
Social Security Disability Claim Decisions
What Makes a Person Eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI
The Social Security Hearing Appeal

The ultimate determination of whether or not a claimant will receive SSI disability benefits (after filing a claim, and perhaps filing multiple appeals) will rest on the claimant’s medical records. However, it’s not really as simply as that. A claimant’s records need to establish that the claimant has functional limitations (the reduced ability to engage in various activities of daily living) that basically make it impossible for the claimant to work and earn what social security refers to as substantial gainful activity, i.e. a substantial and gainful income.

This segment of Disability Audio describes briefly how a claim is initially worked on by a disability examiner at disability determination services. Of course, the very first task that the examiner will accomplish will be to request the claimant’s medical records. So, it becomes obvious at the outset that the information contained in those records are the core of a claimant’s case. And for that reason, claimants need to provide accurate lists of their various medical treatment sources. Because in far too many cases, claimants do leave off information about various sources of treatment and doing so can potentially disadvantage a claim by giving the disability examiner less information with which to work.

Other Posts

Social Security Disability Eligibility
Filing for Disability
Will I be Found Disabled for Social Security Disability?
Social Security Disability Claim Decisions
Applying for Disability with Fibromyalgia and Fibrofog
Lupus and Social Security Disability Benefits