Another Way to Prove You're Disabled
If you have a listed impairment which meets the Social Security Administration's (SSA) very specific medical criteria for disability, you can win your claim for Social Security disability benefits at step three of the five-step evaluation process.
But what if you can't? What if, like many people, you have more than one condition or illness, neither of which is severe enough to meet those criteria on its own?
Fortunately, the SSA recognizes two very important facts. Number one, different individuals can be affected in vastly different ways by the exact same condition or illness. And number two, the combination of two or more non-disabling conditions in one person can be enough to prevent them from working.
Unfortunately, proving that you're disabled by equaling an impairment listing can be extremely difficult.
Don't give up. The experienced attorneys at Shifrin Newman Smith Inc. have earned a reputation for being able to achieve the impossible on behalf of Ohioans who were turned away by other lawyers because their disability claims were "hopeless." And if we are not able to obtain benefits in your case, you won't pay any attorney fees. It's just that simple. Call 877-230-5500 or contact us online for a free consultation today.
How Does the SSA Determine 'Medical Equivalence'?
With respect to disability claims, here is how the SSA deals with specific situations where the meaning of "equaling" an impairment listing is required:
- Your impairment is listed but doesn't exactly fit the criteria. If the findings related to your impairment are at least of equal medical significance to the required criteria, the SSA will find that your impairment is medically equivalent to that listing. This will result in a finding that you are disabled.
- Your impairment is not listed. The SSA will look at closely analogous listed impairments and if the findings related to your impairment are at least of equal medical significance to those of a listed impairment, it will find that your impairment is medically equivalent to the analogous listing.
- You have a combination of impairments, neither of which meets a listing on its own. The SSA compares the medical findings for your combination of impairments to see if they are at least of equal medical significance to those of listed or closely analogous listed impairments.
Statewide Help ... Office Locations in Akron, Cleveland and Toledo
There is absolutely no risk involved with contacting our law firm for a free consultation. To do that, call us toll free from anywhere in the state at 877-230-5500 or send us a brief e-mail message.
