When determining approval for Social Security disability benefits, your medical condition plays a crucial role. However, it’s not the only factor. Age, education, and work experience also contribute to the decision. Notably, age significantly impacts Social Security outcomes. Let’s consider two disability claimants with the same medical condition—one aged 45 and the other aged 60. The 60-year-old may receive approval, while the 45-year-old might be denied.

There’s no simple way of determining whether your medical condition will be enough for you to be found disabled. Social Security relies on a document known as the “Listing of Impairments”, but this isn’t the sole path to approval. The “Listings” themselves aren’t just a list of names of diseases. Each disease has its own specific criteria for approval and those specific criteria are terribly hard to meet. As an example, you might see leg amputation in the “Listings” but you don’t merely need to have had an amputation. In most cases, you’d also have to have problems with your stump that are so bad that you can’t use an artificial leg. When an amputee has that sort of problem, in most cases, their surgeon goes back in to modify the stump so they can use an artificial leg. For most of our clients, meeting a “Listing” is impossible.

In the end, it isn’t very easy. Like it or not, you’re probably going to need a lawyer to help guide you through the Social Security maze.