SSD Eligibility | Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz https://www.barzlaw.com Wed, 02 Sep 2026 18:06:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 SSDI Eligibility with Schizophrenia https://www.barzlaw.com/ssdi-eligibility-with-schizophrenia/ Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:00:28 +0000 https://www.barzlaw.com/?p=18277 Read More »]]> Whether you were recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, or you have known of your diagnosis for quite some time but the condition has worsened significantly in recent time, you may be wondering about your eligibility to obtain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA) if your condition prevents you from working and earning a living. Eligibility for SSD with schizophrenia is a two-part process that comprises meeting medical eligibility requirements and non-medical eligibility requirements. The non-medical eligibility portion is usually quite straightforward: our firm can obtain information about your work history to determine whether you have worked recently enough, and for a long enough period of time, to qualify.

As for the medical requirement, the SSA will require you to provide medical documentation from an “acceptable medical source” that proves your condition is expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in your death, and that proves your condition prevents you from participating in “substantial gainful activity” (SGA), or meaningful employment. Our SSD eligibility lawyer can tell you more below, and we can speak with you today about assessing your eligibility for benefits based on your schizophrenia diagnosis.

What is Schizophrenia? 

Schizophrenia is one type of “mental disorder” identified in Section 12.03 of the SSA Blue Book under “schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders.” According to the Mayo Clinic, schizophrenia is “a serious mental health condition that affects how people think, feel, and behave” that can “result in a mix of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behavior.” Individuals who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia require “lifelong treatment,” which can include a mix of medications and other therapies. The severity of the condition depends on the patient’s response to treatment and other factors.

Proving SSDI Eligibility with Schizophrenia

How your schizophrenia presents, and whether or not it is treatable in such a way that allows you to engage in SGA, will be determining factors in your SSDI eligibility.

You will need medical documentation from your health care provider(s) that proves your condition does not allow for SGA and that it is likely to persist in its current form for at least one year. Your doctor will be able to indicate the treatments that you have received, how those have impacted your condition, and what is expected in the months and years to follow since schizphrenia is a lifelong condition.

Contact Our National SSDI Eligibility Lawyer for Help Seeking Benefits Due to Schizophrenia

If you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and the disease presents in such a way, or impacts you in such a way, that you cannot engage in substantial gainful activity, you may be eligible for SSDI benefits. To determine your eligibility for SSDI benefits and to begin working on your application, you should get in touch with one of the experienced national SSD eligibility attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz to discuss the details of your case. Our firm can assess your non-medical eligibility and can assist you in compiling all of the medical evidence you will need to prove your medical eligibility based on your schizophrenia diagnoses. Do not hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about how we can assist you.

Source:

ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/12.00-MentalDisorders-Adult.htm

]]> Could the Compassionate Allowances Program Speed Up Your Social Security Disability Claim? https://www.barzlaw.com/could-the-compassionate-allowances-program-speed-up-your-social-security-disability-claim/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 10:00:51 +0000 https://www.barzlaw.com/?p=18275 Read More »]]> If you have applied for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, you already know that the waiting period can stretch from several months to well over a year. For most applicants, that wait is simply part of the process. However, if you have been diagnosed with one of the most severe medical conditions recognized by the Social Security Administration (SSA), you may be able to skip much of that delay through a program known as Compassionate Allowances. Our SSD eligibility lawyers regularly help clients determine whether their diagnosis qualifies for this expedited path, and we can explain the basics below.

What Is the Compassionate Allowances Program?

The Compassionate Allowances (CAL) initiative allows the SSA to identify claims involving conditions that so clearly meet the agency’s definition of disability that extensive medical development is often unnecessary. Rather than waiting through the standard review process, applicants with a qualifying CAL diagnosis can have their claims flagged early and moved through the system on an accelerated basis. According to the SSA, the list of CAL conditions now includes 300 diagnoses, ranging from certain aggressive cancers and adult brain disorders to rare genetic conditions that primarily affect children.

How the Fast Track Process Works

Being diagnosed with a condition on the CAL list does not eliminate the need for medical evidence. You will still need documentation from an acceptable medical source confirming your diagnosis. What changes is the speed at which your claim can move once that diagnosis is confirmed. Because these conditions are considered inherently severe, examiners can approve them without gathering the extensive additional records typically required in a standard SSD claim. Some applicants with a CAL diagnosis have received a decision within weeks rather than months.

It is also important to understand that the CAL list is not static. The SSA periodically adds new conditions based on medical advancements and input from advocacy groups, physicians, and the National Institutes of Health. If your specific diagnosis is not currently listed, you may still qualify for standard SSD benefits, but your case will likely proceed through the traditional eligibility timeline rather than the expedited one.

Do You Still Need to Meet Standard SSD Requirements?

Yes. Even with a CAL diagnosis, you must still satisfy the SSA’s non-medical eligibility requirements, meaning you need sufficient recent work history to have earned enough credits toward SSD benefits. The CAL program only affects how quickly your medical eligibility can be confirmed. It does not replace the work history requirement, and it does not guarantee approval if your file is missing documentation the SSA needs to verify your diagnosis.

Contact Our National SSD Eligibility Attorneys for Help With Your Claim

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with a severe medical condition and you are wondering whether it might qualify for expedited processing, it is worth discussing your situation with an experienced advocate. The national SSD eligibility attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz can review your diagnosis, help gather the medical evidence needed to support a Compassionate Allowance claim, and confirm your work history meets the non-medical requirements. Contact our firm today to learn more about how we can help you pursue the benefits you deserve as quickly as possible.

Source:

ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/index.htm

]]> Do I Need a Specific Type of Medical Condition to Qualify for Disability Benefits? https://www.barzlaw.com/do-i-need-a-specific-type-of-medical-condition-to-qualify-for-disability-benefits/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:00:47 +0000 https://www.barzlaw.com/?p=18101 Read More »]]> Determining eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits can be complex, and it is often confusing for a person who has recently been diagnosed with a serious illness or a debilitating injury to understand if they are eligible. The question of eligibility is often complicated further when a person with a disability realizes there is a full listing of impairments in the Social Security Administration (SSA) Blue Book, and that there is a separate listing of specific impairments identified in the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program. Do you need to have one of these listed impairments to qualify for SSDI benefits? Or do you need a specific type of medical condition to qualify?

In short, the answer to both questions is no, but you do need to meet requirements identified by the SSA to qualify for Social Security Disability. Our national SSD eligibility attorneys can explain in more detail.

Requirements to Be Eligible for SSDI Benefits 

To be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must meet the 1) work history requirement and the 2) medical requirement. The work history requirement concerns whether you have worked long enough and recently enough to have sufficient work credits. The medical eligibility requirement says that you must have medical evidence that shows the following of your medical condition:

It is expected to last at least 12 months or to result in your death, and it is serious enough that it prevents you from engaging in a degree of work known as substantial gainful activity (SGA). The medical eligibility language does not mandate or require that you have a specific disease or diagnosed condition, but rather that your condition is disabling in the manner described above.

How Are the Blue Book and CAL Program Relevant?

If you do not need a specific condition, what is the list of impairments for in the Blue Book? The list of impairments can help you to understand whether you meet the medical requirement described above — the Blue Book identifies specific impairments that can qualify a person based on that above definition of a disability.

The CAL program does not determine general SSDI eligibility, but rather whether you have an impairment that qualifies you for an expedited approval process. If you have one of the listed impairments here, you may be able to obtain SSDI benefits without the five-month waiting period.

Contact Our National SSD Eligibility Attorney Today for Assistance with Your Application for Benefits

Were you recently diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition, or did you recently experience a life-altering injury in an accident? If so, for all of the reasons we discussed above, you could be eligible to receive SSDI benefits if you can meet the specific requirements. To be clear, while certain types of medical conditions can qualify a person for SSDI benefits, and some particularly serious conditions can qualify a person for an expedited approval through the Compassionate Allowances program, you do not need to have a specifically listed condition to be eligible for Social Security Disability. One of the experienced national SSD eligibility lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz can discuss the details of your disability with you today and can begin working with you on your eligibility and application for benefits.

Sources:

ssa.gov/disability/eligibility

ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm

]]> Can I Be Eligible for SSDI Benefits for Hearing Loss After Cochlear Implantation? https://www.barzlaw.com/can-i-be-eligible-for-ssdi-benefits-for-hearing-loss-after-cochlear-implantation/ Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:00:16 +0000 https://www.barzlaw.com/?p=18097 Read More »]]> Hearing loss, and the varied forms it takes, can be a reason for a person to seek Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). In order to be eligible for benefits based on hearing loss, you must show that your condition, based on medical evidence, is expected to last for at least one year (or to result in your death), and you must be able to show that your condition prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity. Hearing loss is a recognized disability in the SSA’s Blue Book, a guide used to determine whether a condition meets the required definition of a disability.

How is SSDI eligibility for hearing loss affected by cochlear implantation? In general, it will depend on the individual’s circumstances and experience with cochlear implantation, but if you have already been approved for SSDI benefits, you may be eligible to continue receiving them for at least one year following cochlear implantation. Our SSDI eligibility lawyer can explain in more detail.

What is Cochlear Implantation?

According to the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, a cochlear implant “is an electronic medical device designed to restore the ability to perceive sounds and understand speech by individuals with moderate to profound hearing loss.”

Cochlear implants are not hearing aids. Hearing aids are also medical devices that assist with hearing, but hearing aids “deliver amplified sound acoustically.” A cochlear implant, differently, “bypasses damaged hair cells in the cochlea and stimulates the remaining nerve fibers directly through the application of electrical current.” The success of cochlear implants depends on many different factors, and they are not successful for all patients who receive them, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Can I Receive or Continue Receiving SSDI Benefits with Cochlear Implants?

Whether you are currently receiving SSDI benefits or are planning to apply for benefits due to hearing and sensory loss, you may be wondering if you will be benefits-eligible if you receive cochlear implants.

Under the SSA Blue Book, you can still receive SSDI benefits after cochlear implantation. For one year after initial implantation, hearing loss treated with cochlear implantation is still considered to be under a disability. After one year of implantation, if the recipient of the device has a word recognition score of 60 percent or less, they can remain eligible for SSDI.

Contact Our National Social Security Disability Eligibility Attorney for Help Seeking Benefits Due to Hearing Loss

Have you experienced hearing loss as a result of a traumatic incident, long-term exposure issues, or a serious medical diagnosis? If so, you may be eligible to obtain SSDI benefits through the SSA. For some individuals who experience significant hearing loss, it may be possible, as we discussed above, to have some hearing ability restored through cochlear implantation. If you have undergone — or are considering undergoing — cochlear implantation, the SSA does allow your continued SSDI eligibility for a period of time, as we indicated. To find out more about your continuing SSDI eligibility for hearing loss or to seek advice about having benefits reinstated, you should get in touch with one of the experienced national SSD eligibility lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz. Contact our firm today for assistance with your SSDI benefits.

Sources:

ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/2.00-SpecialSensesandSpeech-Adult.htm#2_11

acialliance.org/page/CochlearImplant

]]> Does My Health Care Provider Count as an Acceptable Medical Source? https://www.barzlaw.com/does-my-health-care-provider-count-as-an-acceptable-medical-source/ Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:00:09 +0000 https://www.barzlaw.com/?p=17884 Read More »]]> When you think about all of the health care providers you see, you might imagine a family physician or a particular type of specialist, but you might also think about some of the providers you see who work in an area commonly considered to be “alternative medicine.” As the National Center for Biotechnology Information explains, “alternative medicine is a broad term encompassing a variety of medical modalities,” and it is an old designation that is still used to distinguish “alternative medicine” from “allopathic medicine,” with the latter referring to “Western medicine, evidence-based medicine, conventional medicine, or mainstream medicine.”

How do you know which of your providers to ask for medical evidence in support of your application and eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits? In short, your medical evidence submitted to prove eligibility for SSD benefits must come from an “acceptable medical source” as it is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is the definition the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses in making SSDI determinations.

Definition of an Acceptable Medical Source

Under Section 404.1502 of the Code of Federal Regulations, an “acceptable medical source,” which you may see abbreviated as an AMS, means the following:

  • 1) Licensed physician;
  • 2) Licensed psychologist;
  • 3) Licensed optometrist for impairments of visual disorders, or measurement of visual acuity and visual fields only;
  • 4) Licensed podiatrist for impairments of the foot, or foot and ankle only;
  • 5) Qualified speech-language pathologist for speech or language impairments only;
  • 6) Licensed audiologist for impairments of hearing loss, auditory processing disorders, and balance disorders within the licensed scope of practice only;
  • 7) Licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse for impairments within their licensed scope of practice; and
  • 8) Licensed Physician Assistant for impaired within their licensed scope of practice.

Considering the Health Care Provider and Your Specific Impairment

As you can see, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and other practitioners of “alternative medicine” are not identified as acceptable medical sources by the Code of Federal Regulations, and thus your medical evidence for your SSDI application should not come from such a provider. Instead, it should come from one of the types of providers listed above.

In addition to your medical evidence needing to come from one of the acceptable medical sources listed above, it is also essential to link your acceptable medical source to your particular impairment. For example, even though a licensed audiologist can be an acceptable medical source, you cannot provide medical evidence of a musculoskeletal disorder from a licensed audiologist, for example.

Contact a National SSD Eligibility Attorney to Discuss Your Application and to Seek the Benefits You Need

When you are applying for SSDI benefits, it is critical to ensure that all medical evidence in your application is accurate and complete, and that your medical evidence involves an acceptable medical source as the SSA defines it. While there are many forms of alternative medicine that can be popular and can provide benefits to patients, it is essential to ensure that you are not relying on evidence from a provider who does not meet the definition of an acceptable medical source. By working on your application or any appeal with one of the experienced national SSD eligibility lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz, you can be sure that you will be submitting the type and amount of medical information required to prove your eligibility for disability benefits. Contact us today for help with your case.

Sources:

ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-1502.htm

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538520/

]]> Does a Cancer Diagnosis Make Me Eligible for the Compassionate Allowances Program? https://www.barzlaw.com/does-a-cancer-diagnosis-make-me-eligible-for-the-compassionate-allowances-program/ Mon, 11 May 2026 10:00:54 +0000 https://www.barzlaw.com/?p=17698 Read More »]]> If you have received a cancer diagnosis, are you eligible to have your SSDI application expedited under the Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program? It depends. There are a wide range of types of cancer that are listed in the CAL program’s list, but it will depend on the type of cancer and, in many cases, the staging of the cancer. We can explain in more detail below, and we can speak with you today if you have questions about SSDI eligibility or your eligibility for the CAL program.

Cancer and Compassionate Allowances Program Conditions

The CAL list includes the following types of cancer with some additional required qualifications:

  • Acute leukemia;
  • Adrenal cancer with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent;
  • Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma;
  • Alveolar soft part sarcoma;
  • Anaplastic adrenal cancer in an adult with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent;
  • Anaplastic thyroid cancer;
  • Angiosarcoma;
  • Astrocytoma grade III or IV;
  • Atypical teratoid/rhaboid tumor;
  • Bilateral retinoblastoma;
  • Bladder cancer with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent;
  • Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm;
  • Breast cancer with distant mestastases or recurrent;
  • Carcinoma of unknown primary site;
  • Child lymphoblastic lymphoma;
  • Child lymphoma;
  • Child medulloblastoma;
  • Child neuroblastoma with distant mestastases or recurrent;
  • Cholangiocarcinoma;
  • Chondrosarcoma with multimodal therapy;
  • Choroid plexus carcinoma;
  • Chromic myelogenous leukemia (CML) blast phase;
  • CIC-rearranged sarcoma;
  • Desmoplastic mesothelioma;
  • Desmoplastic small round cell tumors;
  • Endometrial stromal sarcoma;
  • Ependymoblastoma;
  • Esophageal cancer;
  • Esthesioneuroblastoma;
  • Ewing sarcoma;
  • Fibromellar cancer;
  • Follicular dendritic cell carcinoma with mestastases or recurrent;
  • Gallbladder cancer;
  • Glioblastoma multiforme;
  • Glioma grade III and Grade IV;
  • Head and neck cancers with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent;
  • Hepatoblastoma;
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma;
  • Histiocytic malignancies;
  • Inflammatory breast cancer;
  • Intracranial hemangiopericytoma;
  • Kidney cancer that is inoperable or unresectable;
  • Large intestine cancer with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent;
  • Leiomyosarcoma;
  • Liposarcoma that is metastatic or recurrent;
  • Lymphomatoid granulomatosis grade III;
  • Malignant brainstem gliomas;
  • Malignant ectomesenchymoma;
  • Malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor;
  • Malignant germ cell tumor;
  • Malignant renal rhaboid tumor;
  • Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL);
  • Merkel cell carcinoma with metastasis;
  • Metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma;
  • Mucosal malignant melanoma;
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome with excess blasts;
  • Non-small cell lung cancer;
  • NUT carcinoma;
  • Oligodendroglioma brain cancer grade III;
  • Osteosarcoma;
  • Ovarian cancer with distant metastases or inoperable or unresectable;
  • Pancreatic cancer;
  • Pericardial mesothelioma;
  • Peripheral nerve cancer that is metastatic or recurrent;
  • Peritoneal mesothelioma;
  • Pineoblastoma;
  • Plasmatic lymphoma;
  • Pleural mesothelioma;
  • Primary central nervous system lymphoma;
  • Primal omental cancer;
  • Primary peritoneal cancer;
  • Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma;
  • Renal medullary carcinoma;
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma;
  • Salivary cancers;
  • Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung stage II, III, or IV;
  • Sarcomatoid mesothelioma;
  • Secondary adenocarcinoma of the brain;
  • Sinonasal cancer;
  • Skin malignant melanoma with metastases;
  • Small cell cancer of the female genital tract;
  • Small cell cancer of the large intestine;
  • Small cell cancer of the ovary;
  • Small cell cancer of the prostate;
  • Small cell cancer of the thymus;
  • Small cell lung cancer;
  • Small intestine cancer with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent;
  • Soft tissue carcinoma with distant mestastases or recurrent;
  • Spinal nerve root cancer that is metastatic or recurrent;
  • Stomach cancer with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent;
  • Thymic carcinoma;
  • Ureter cancer with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent; and
  • WHO grade III meningiomas.

It is possible that the list may be updated or expanded at a later date.

Contact Our National SSD Eligibility Attorney for Help Seeking Faster Benefits through the Compassionate Allowances Program

Do you have questions about your eligibility for the expedited CAL program for SSD benefits? The experienced national SSD eligibility lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz can speak with you today and can begin working with you on your application.

Source:

ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/

]]> What is the Difference Between CAL Eligibility and SSDI Eligibility? https://www.barzlaw.com/what-is-the-difference-between-cal-eligibility-and-ssdi-eligibility/ Mon, 04 May 2026 10:00:39 +0000 https://www.barzlaw.com/?p=17696 Read More »]]> The Social Security Administration (SSA), which administers Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, launched its Compassionate Allowances program back in 2008. The program was created in order to help applicants with particularly severe medical conditions to be eligible for an expedited process that did not require waiting the usual length of time to receive disability benefits. At first, the Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program listed 50 conditions that could make a person eligible for a fast-tracked or expedited application. Over time, the list of conditions expanded to include many more conditions and to ensure that Americans with the more severe conditions would be able to obtain benefits quickly.

It can be confusing to be seeking SSDI benefits and to see that there is also the CAL program which lists various conditions for disability benefits. You may now be wondering: what is the difference between CAL eligibility and SSDI eligibility? To be clear, these are not two separate disability programs. Rather, CAL eligibility allows for expedited SSDI eligibility and payments. Our national SSD eligibility lawyers can explain more clearly and in more detail below.

Compassionate Allowances Program Eligibility is Simply an Expedited Form of SSDI Eligibility 

While it can be confusing, it is important to understand that the Compassionate Allowances program is a program through which SSDI eligibility can be expedited. In other words, CAL program eligibility does not allow for separate disability benefits. Instead, if you are eligible for the CAL program based on your medical condition and specific diagnosis, your application and eligibility for SSDI benefits can then be expedited.

Without CAL program eligibility, you will need to wait at least 5 months from the date of your disability to receive SSDI benefits. With CAL program eligibility, you can begin receiving SSDI payments sooner — on an expedited timeline. The thinking is that conditions for which the CAL program applies are so serious that the disability applicant needs their benefits very quickly, or as soon as possible given the severity of their condition.

Are You Eligible for Expedited SSDI Eligibility Under the CAL Program?

How can you determine if your medical diagnosis qualifies you for expedited SSDI applicant review and benefits under the Compassionate Allowances program? Currently, there are 300 listed conditions on the CAL list, which was updated most recently to add 13 more conditions in August 2025.

Some of these conditions require a specific staging in your diagnosis, such as a stage II, III, or IV diagnosis for particular types of cancer, for example. For other conditions, your diagnosis must also include that the condition has distant metastases or has been determined to be inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent. Then, for some specific conditions, simply having the diagnosis is sufficient to qualify for expedited review under the CAL program. The best way to determine your eligibility for expedited review for SSDI benefits under the CAL program is to discuss your specific medical diagnosis and condition and to share your medical records with an SSD eligibility attorney who can assist you.

Contact a National SSD Eligibility Attorney for Help Determining CAL Program Eligibility and Expediting Your SSDI Benefits

Do you need assistance with SSDI eligibility in general or determining whether you are eligible for an expedited review under the CAL program? An experienced national SSD eligibility lawyer at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz can begin working with you today on your application for disability benefits.

Source:

ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/

]]> What Type of Medical Diagnosis Do I Need to Be Eligible for SSDI? https://www.barzlaw.com/what-type-of-medical-diagnosis-do-i-need-to-be-eligible-for-ssdi/ Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:00:15 +0000 https://www.barzlaw.com/?p=17700 Read More »]]> After a serious accident or learning that you have a debilitating medical condition, you might be thinking about applying for Social Security disability through the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA handles both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, which are available based on your work history and can be available to high-income and low-income earners alike, as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, which are based on your having limited resources. For either type of disability payment, you must also meet a medical requirement to be eligible.

What type of medical diagnosis do you need to be eligible for SSD? The answer is not quite this simple. Our national SSD eligibility lawyer can explain in more detail below.

Medical Eligibility is Determined by the Effects of Your Medical Condition Rather Than Your Specific Diagnosis

Were you recently diagnosed with a serious chronic health condition, or a terminal illness? You might assume that your specific diagnosis — such as a particular heart condition, or a type of cancer — may be what qualifies you for SSD benefits. However, it is the effects of your condition that will determine your eligibility.

To meet medical eligibility requirements, you must have a condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or to result in your death, and it must be serious enough that you cannot engage in what the SSA determines to be “substantial gainful activity,” or SGA.

Understanding the Relevance of the SSA Blue Book

If your specific diagnosis is not what ultimately determines your eligibility, what is the relevance of the SSA Blue Book? This is a tool that lists a wide range of impairments for which a person can be eligible for SSD benefits.

In the Blue Book, there are a wide range of conditions listed, which means that being diagnosed with one of these conditions could make you eligible for Social Security disability benefits. In order to be eligible with one of these conditions, it must also be severe enough that it prevents you from engaging in SGA, and it must be expected to last at least 12 months or to result in your death. The Blue Book provides detailed information about the severity of different types of impairments and when those impairments can qualify a person for disability benefits.

Contact Our National SSD Eligibility Attorney for Assistance with Your Application Today

Do you have questions about your SSDi eligibility based on a recent medical diagnosis? It is important to remember that, as we explained above, your eligibility will not be based on the specific diagnosis but rather the effects of the condition for which you have been diagnosed. If you have any questions, or if you are ready to begin your SSDI application, you should seek help from one of the experienced national SSD eligibility lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz. We have years of experience representing clients in Social Security disability cases, and we can answer any questions you have and can begin working with you to ensure that you submit a complete and accurate application.

Sources:

ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html

ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/AdultListings.htm

]]> How Can I Prove SSD Eligibility If I Was Just Denied? https://www.barzlaw.com/how-can-i-prove-ssd-eligibility-if-i-was-just-denied/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:00:22 +0000 https://www.barzlaw.com/?p=17693 Read More »]]> Did you expect to be found eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) only to be denied? Denials can happen based on different eligibility issues. As you likely know if you have applied for benefits, there are two different requirements you must meet to be eligible for SSDI payments: you must have a disability according to the definition used by the Social Security Administration (SSA), and you must have sufficient work credits. If there is a question about your disability eligibility based on your medical records, you can be denied for medical reasons. If there is a question about your work history and your credits, you can be denied for non-medical reasons.

The good news is that, even if you have been denied benefits, you can take steps to prove your eligibility and to be approved for benefits upon appeal. The process for proving that you are eligible will depend on the reason for the denial and the stage of your application and appeal.

Proving Medical or Disability Eligibility After a Denial

Were you denied because the SSA said your medical condition does not meet the requirements necessary to show you have a disability? To prove that you are eligible based on your medical condition, you must have medical evidence from an acceptable source that shows you have a condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or to result in your death, and it must prevent you from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA).

If you received a disability or medical denial, we can assess the materials you provided to the SSA and can determine what information you will need to prove your eligibility going forward. It is possible that your medical record was incomplete or that the evidence came from a provider who is not recognized as an acceptable source by the SSA. All of this can be corrected in the appeals process.

Proving Non-Medical Eligibility After a Denial

If you were denied for non-medical reasons — meaning that the SSA said you did not have enough work credits, or work long enough or recently enough to qualify — we can look into your work history and determine whether you are in fact eligible. If so, we can resubmit revised information and missing evidence if necessary.

Determining the Appeals Stage and Next Steps in the Process

After you determine which type of eligibility you must prove in your appeal, you will then need to determine the next steps in the appeals process. After an initial denial, these are the stages of appeal:

  • Reconsideration;
  • Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ);
  • Appeals Council hearing; and
  • Federal district court lawsuit.

Contact a National SSD Eligibility Attorney for Assistance with Your Reconsideration and Appeal 

If you were denied SSDI benefits from the SSA because you did not meet an eligibility requirement, you can appeal the decision, as we have discussed above. The method of appeal will depend on the reason for your denial and the stage of the appeals process. Whether you need assistance proving disability (medical) eligibility or non-medical eligibility, and whether you need assistance at the early appeals stage of reconsideration or further on in the appeal process, our firm can help. One of the experienced national SSD eligibility lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz can discuss your SSDI eligibility with you today and can begin working with you on a plan to appeal your denial. Contact us for additional information.

Sources:

ssa.gov/apply/appeal-decision-we-made/request-reconsideration

ssa.gov/apply/appeal-decision-we-made

]]> Can I Speed Up My SSDI Eligibility Determination? https://www.barzlaw.com/can-i-speed-up-my-ssdi-eligibility-determination/ Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:00:14 +0000 https://www.barzlaw.com/?p=17543 Read More »]]> How long will you need to wait for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to make a decision about your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits? The answer is longer than you might have thought initially. For traditional SSDI applicants, even if you are approved upon your initial application, you will need to wait five months from the date that your disability began in order to begin receiving benefits. That means benefits will start in the sixth month. However, in practice, the waiting period can be longer due to processing timelines and the number of applications that the SSA is reviewing at any given time. Recent data from the SSA suggests that, in practice, you are likely looking at a timeline of about six to eight months after you submit your application.

Is there any way to speed up the process? There might be, and it will depend on the nature of your disability. Our SSD eligibility lawyer can explain.

Are You Eligible for the Compassionate Allowances Program?

You may be able to speed up your eligibility determination and timeline for receiving benefits if you are eligible for the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances program. This program is designed specifically for applicants with particularly serious illnesses or conditions — those with “the most serious disabilities,” the SSA explains.

For those individuals who are eligible for this program, and the SSA provides a complete list of eligible conditions, the overall waiting time can be reduced so that you can begin receiving benefits sooner.

Traditional SSDI Wait Times Outside the Compassionate Allowances Program

If you are not eligible for the Compassionate Allowances program, there is not another way to speed up the determination of your eligibility for benefits, unfortunately.

You can help yourself to get benefits as quickly as possible, however, by submitting a completed and accurate application as soon as possible. A lawyer can help you with the application to ensure that you supply all eligibility evidence up front so that the SSA can approve your application and you can begin receiving benefits as soon as the five-month waiting period is up or the application is processed (if the latter happens later).

Contact a National SSDI Eligibility Attorney for Assistance with Your Application

Waiting for SSDI benefits can be difficult, especially when you have no other assets to rely on. As we discussed above, the eligibility determination timeline is often longer than most people are hoping for, with recent data suggesting that SSDI applicants are not informed about their eligibility for six to eight months. While you can begin receiving benefits after a five-month waiting period from the date your disability began, the wait can be longer given backlogs and processing delays. There is no option for speeding up a regular SSDI application for benefits, yet as we explained above, the Compassionate Allowances program can make the process much faster if you are eligible.

To discuss general SSDI eligibility or your eligibility for seeking benefits through the Compassionate Allowances program, you should get in touch with one of the experienced national SSD eligibility lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz. Contact our firm today to learn more about how we can assist you with your SSD application and proving your eligibility.

Sources:

ssa.gov/benefits/disability/approval.html

sa.gov/compassionateallowances/

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