Social Security Disability Evaluation Process

1. Are you working?
If an individual is working in 2008 and his/her earnings average more than $940.00/month, he/she generally cannot be considered disabled. If he/she is not working, please go to Step 2.

2. Is your condition severe?
An individual's condition must interfere with basic work-related activities for a claim to be considered. If so, please go to Step 3.

3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?
For each of the major body systems, there is a list of medical conditions that are so severe they automatically qualify an individual as being disabled. If his/her condition is not on the list, it may still be found to be of equal severity to a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, the individual may be found disabled. If it is not, then go to Step 4. (http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm)

4. Can you do the work you did previously?
If an individual's condition is severe but not at the same or equal level of severity as a medical condition on the list, then it must be determined that it interferes with his/her ability to do the work he/she did previously. If it does not, his/her claim will be denied. If it does sufficiently interfere, then go to Step 5

5. Can you do any other type of work?
If an individual cannot do the work he/she did in the past, can he/she adjust to other work? The key factors are medical conditions, age, education, past work experience and any transferable skills. If he/she cannot adjust to other work, the claim will be approved.