Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits protect people who cannot work due to medical issues. Those who have previously maintained gainful employment may qualify for SSDI benefits when health challenges prevent them from working.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) receives thousands of SSDI applications every month. Individuals with a broad range of medical conditions seek benefits because they currently cannot work. The SSA has a list of potentially qualifying conditions and evaluates every application on its own merits.
There are some trends that show up when looking at data from recent years. Three medical conditions account for almost half of all approved applications in 2022, which is the most recent year with an analysis available. What types of conditions resulted in the highest number of approved SSDI applications that year?
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue conditions
Issues with bones, connective tissue or muscles accounted for over 30% of the applications approved by the SSA in 2022. Conditions that affect someone’s mobility, strength and range of motion can impair their ability to safely perform even basic jobs. The chronic pain caused by such conditions can also affect someone’s work. Those with permanent or progressive conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system or connective tissues may have a decent chance of obtaining SSDI benefits.
Nervous system and sense organ conditions
The nervous system consists of the brain, the spinal cord and the nerves throughout the human body. Disorders and injuries that affect the function of the brain, the nerves or sensory processing can have profound impacts on someone’s quality of life and overall health. Those struggling with conditions that affect their nervous systems or sense organs may have a difficult time meeting basic job requirements or safely performing complex job functions. Such disorders often cause lasting impairment, which is why they account for another 10% of the approved applications for SSDI benefits in 2022.
Depressive, bipolar and related disorders
The brain doesn’t just struggle to function properly after physical injury or illness. Sometimes, mental health challenges can be as debilitating as physical medical conditions. People diagnosed with serious mental health maladies sometimes become unable to work because of how their conditions affect their behavior. Depressive disorders, bipolar disorders and related medical conditions accounted for almost another 12% of the approved disability applications submitted to the SSA in 2022.
There are a host of other potentially qualifying conditions, ranging from parasitic diseases and endocrine disorders to respiratory system issues. Adequate evidence of the severity of a condition and its likely duration can be more important than a specific diagnosis. Learning more about SSDI benefits can help those concerned about their ability to keep working. A successful SSDI application can help someone cover their basic expenses without employment income.