ABA Family Legal Guide

Law and the Workplace

On the Job

Social Security Disability Insurance

What types of injuries are considered "disabling"?

A disabling medical condition is one that can be expected to last at least twelve months and causes the employee to be unable to work anywhere in the country. The Social Security Administration has published a list of impairments that are considered disabling, such as severe epilepsy and loss of vision or hearing. A medical condition that does not appear on the list still may be considered disabling if the worker can show that the condition is the medical equivalent of a listed impairment--that it is equal in severity and duration to a listed impairment.