Severity of Health Problems

The severity of individuals health problems greatly determines their likelihood of approval. What is meant by severity of health problems, though?

Well, it is really as common sense as it sounds, unlike many things in the Social Security Disability process. The worse an individual’s health problems are, the more likely it is that Social Security will look at their case favorably. However, serious health problems like cancer, amputations, and other terminal illnesses, are no guarantee of approval.

The Social Security administration has what they call listings. A listing is essentially a diagnostic criteria for what makes a health problem qualify as a disability. So, the average person can think of this like a definition for a disability. These listings become especially useful for health problems with a wide range of severity, like asthma or diabetes. One individual may have diabetes, yet be able to manage it and work a productive and healthy life. At the same time, another individual may be diagnosed with diabetes that is so severe they are unable to stand for long, put on their shoes, or other things required to work. So, while the severity of health problems is no guarantee that you will be approved, it is certainly one of the largest factors that contributes to your overall chances.