The Main Factors In Every Social Security Disability Case

In every claim for Social Security Disability benefits, the government evaluates the case by looking at a number of different factors. In determining whether a person is disabled and unable to perform in the workplace, a disability analyst or an Administrative Law Judge will assess any factor that is relevant to whether or not a person can work. While there is no definitive list of factors since every case is different, here are the top three factors in every disability case:

• MEDICAL IMPAIRMENTS

This is the most obvious factor and must be considered for a person to be rendered disabled. An individual cannot simply claim disability without providing the government some kind of medical evidence proving that they are medically unfit for the workplace. Medical impairments include physical and mental conditions and proof typically comes in the form of lab reports, radiological evidence, evaluation records, narrative reports, or any other kind of written documentation from a medical professional. It's important to remember that some medical professionals are not considered "accepted medical sources" by the Social Security Administration, but evidence obtained by these professionals can still be considered.

• AGE

A person's age is crucial in the determination of whether a person can be found disabled or not. The Social Security Administration has created a set of guidelines known as the Medical Vocation Guidelines, whereby a claimant's age, education and past work experience is considered. If a claimant falls within a specific age range and his education and past work render them unemployable based on those specific factors, a finding of disabled is automatic through these guidelines. Disability benefits become a lot easier to get once an individual has reached the age of 50 and while no one can control their age, it is a major factor in every case.

• PREVIOUS WORK HISTORY

A person's work history is always considered in a disability claim becuase a particular step in the Administration's sequential evaluation is to determine whether the person can perform their past work. If this person is deemed unable to perform their last job, the next step is to determine whether that person can perform any other job in the local or national economy. Someone with a strong, steady work history will be looked favorably upon by the Administration because it means they have paid into the system throughout their entire work history. A spotty work history, or one with gaps raises questions about the person's credibility.

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