How Does Social Security Determine Disability? Will They Compare Me To Other People?
The Social Security Administration understands that the symptoms of your disability are subjective and that it may be difficult to quantify exactly how impaired you are. In fact, the SSA has previously ruled that the level of disability and impairment cannot always be objectively measured by clinical or laboratory testing.
Due to these facts, the SSA must rely on the professional judgment of your physician as to the nature of your disability, the degree of your impairment, and what you can still be reasonably expected to do despite your disability. Your doctor will need to determine if your symptoms can be explained by a medical condition, and if the limitations your disability imposes on you are consistent with that medical condition.
Furthermore, you should remember that subjectivity of your disability means that the SSA will not compare you to other people with similar disabilities. The fact of the matter is that the same medical condition can have a variety of different effects on different people. Some people have different pain tolerances than others, there may be psychological factors involved, or there may be significant elements in the environment that exacerbate or mollify symptoms. One person with a back condition may be able to work full-time, while another person with the same condition could be bedridden. As a result, the SSA will evaluate each person as an individual case, without comparing him to other disabled people.
If you are unsure whether your physical or mental condition is severe enough to qualify you for Social Security disability benefits, contact the experienced disability representatives at GENEX Services for a free evaluation of your case. Please contact us today or fill out our claim evaluation form.