What are the disability decision-making guidelines used by Social Security?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a five-step process to determine if an individual qualifies for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. For an individual to receive benefits, he or she must meet the SSA’s definition of disability. The disability decision-making guidelines are as follows: Step One: Are you working? The SSA requires a person to be unable to work for at least one year or to have a condition that’s expected to result in death. Step Two: Is your condition serious? The SSA will determine if an individual’s condition is deemed “severe” such as if it limits the individual’s ability to do basic work activities like walk, sit, or remember. Step Three: Is the condition on the list of disabling conditions? The SSA maintains a list of medical conditions that are known to be disabling. If an individual’s condition is on the list, then he or she is automatically eligible for SSD benefits. Step Four: Can you do the work you did before? The SSA will determine if the person is able to perform the work he or she did before due to his or her disabling condition. Step Five: Can you do any other work? The last step is to determine if the individual can do any other type of work based on his or her age, level of education, job experience, and current medical condition. In conclusion, the disability decision-making guidelines used by Social Security involve a five-step process that determines an individual’s eligibility for SSD benefits. These guidelines consider factors like work history, medical condition, and ability to do basic work activities.

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