What Conditions Automatically Qualify You for Disability?

10M+people receiving Social Security benefits

In an effort the provide exceptional client service, Hardison & Cochran only handles Disability Claims where the claimant lives in the state of North Carolina. If you’re seeking disability benefits and you’re outside of North Carolina, we urge you to search for a licensed attorney within your state or find a law firm that handles claims nationwide.

According to the most recent statistics from the Social Security Administration (SSA), approximately 8.6 million people receive Social Security benefits based on a disability. That total included 7,249,000 disabled workers, 1,101,000 other disabled adults, and 196,000 disabled widows and widowers as of April 2025. In addition, 85,000 spouses and 1,050,000 children of disabled workers receive benefits.

The legal definition of “disability” states that a person can be considered disabled if they are unable to perform any substantial gainful activity due to a medical or physical impairment or impairments that can be expected to result in death or which have lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

While no condition guarantees automatic approval, certain severe conditions can streamline the qualification process if they automatically qualify under SSA guidelines.

Our Social Security disability (SSD) attorneys at Hardison & Cochran understand that the Social Security Administration’s listings of medical impairments that qualify for disability benefits can be confusing. Some conditions automatically qualify for disability through programs like the Compassionate Allowance Program, which expedites claims for severe or terminal illnesses. Listed below are some of the most common types of disabilities. Our knowledgeable attorneys can help you appeal your case if the Administration has denied your claim for SSD. We assist people throughout North Carolina in pursuing disability claims. The sooner you contact us, the quicker we can get started to work on your disability appeal.

Compassionate Allowances: Fast-Track Approval for Severe Conditions

The Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program expedites disability claims for applicants with the most serious medical conditions. Instead of waiting months, these claims are often approved within weeks.

There are currently over 280 conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list, including:

Acute Leukemia
ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Pancreatic Cancer
Stage IV Cancers
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Frontotemporal Dementia

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a severe condition, you may qualify for faster approval. Our North Carolina disability attorneys can help determine if your condition is on the Compassionate Allowances list and ensure your application is processed as quickly as possible.

Some conditions that may automatically qualify the policyholder for Social Security Disability benefits are as follows.

Musculoskeletal system and connective problems including:
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Back pain
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
- Musculoskeletal disorder
Mental disorders including:
- Mood disorders
- Autism or Asperger’s syndrome
- Schizophrenia
- Depression
- PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)
- Bipolar disorder
- Severe anxiety
- Impulse control disorders
- Mental health condition
Cardiovascular conditions and circulatory disorders:
- Angina
- Heart diseases
- Hypertension
- Chronic heart failure
- Congestive heart failure
Cancer
Nervous system and sense organs conditions:
- Parkinson’s diseases
- Blindness
- Epilepsy
- Hearing loss
- Cerebral palsy
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue

The SSA reports that the largest category of diagnoses among disabled workers receiving disability benefits was diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. These disabilities, which represented 34.1 percent of the diagnoses, involve damage to one’s nerves, muscles, tendons or ligaments. Examples of this type of disorder include:

Arthritis

An individual with rheumatoid arthritis, a disorder of the immune system, must experience significant limits on his or her ability to work to qualify for benefits under this medical diagnosis. Rheumatoid arthritis is sometimes referred to as a connective tissue disorder.

Back pain

(scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, ruptured disc or spinal disorders)—Abnormal curvature of the spine may affect an individual’s ability to walk as well as the function of other body systems. The intensity of back pain and the limitations on an individual’s ability to function are considered in a disability diagnosis related to back pain.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a complex syndrome in which a person has widespread pain in the joints, tendons, muscles and soft tissues that lasts for more than three months. Claims reviewers will try to assess whether there is adequate evidence to show that the condition limits a person’s ability to perform any type of gainful work.

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

(RSD) — RSD describes a range of symptoms that may occur from injury, diseases or surgery. RSD is characterized by intense burning or aching pain typically caused by trauma to a single extremity.

Mental Disorders

According to the SSA, nearly 25 percent of disability benefits were awarded to individuals with qualifying mental disorders. Individuals must have a medically diagnosed mental condition and it must cause an extreme limitation in an individual’s ability to function independently. The Social Security Administration groups mental disorders into broad categories, including:

Mood disorders

(anxiety, depression, panic attacks) – To qualify for disability, the anxiety disorder or depression must cause limitations in the ability to understand and apply information, to have social interactions with others, to concentrate and to manage oneself.
Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders

Disability claims reviewers look for medical documentations that the individual has delusions or hallucinations, and disorganized thinking.
Organic mental disorder

The criteria for Social Security Disability benefits based on organic mental disorder, also known as organic brain syndrome, vary with the particular disorder, but typically involve a doctor’s documentation that an individual has shown one or more symptoms of organic mental disorder such as confusion, loss of cognitive ability and memory loss.
Post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD) – Post-traumatic stress is a type of anxiety disorder. A person with PTSD may qualify as having a disabling mood disorder if the condition is properly medically documented.
Autism or Asperger’s syndrome

Individuals with Autism spectrum disorders may qualify for disability benefits if they have medically documented deficits in verbal communication, non-verbal communication and social interaction and limitations in the ability to understand, recall and apply information, to interact with others, to concentrate and to manage oneself
Alcoholism or drug addiction

You cannot qualify for disability if drug or alcohol abuse is a contributing factor to the condition. Mental disorders due to drug or alcohol addiction are not considered organic mental disorders.

Cardiac and Circulatory Disorders

Approximately 7.6 percent of claimants awarded benefits suffered from a circulatory disorder, according to the SSA. Circulatory disorders involve the flow of blood to the heart and rest of the body. Examples are:

Angina

Chest pain by itself is insufficient to support a determination of disability. Angina is one of the most common cardiac disorders.
High blood pressure / hypertension

High blood pressure, if not properly managed, may damage other body systems and lead to heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular complications. Individuals with high blood pressure applying for disability are evaluated under the criteria for chronic heart disease and coronary artery disease.
Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease, which involves narrowing of the coronary arteries due to a build-up of plaque, is the most common cause of reduced blood and oxygen supply to the heart, a condition known as myocardial ischemia. Coronary artery disease may cause total functional impairment. Claims examiners will assess the impact on an individual’s ability to function in making a finding on disability benefits.
Chronic heart failure and congestive heart failure

Chronic heart failure and congestive heart failure are severe forms of heart disease that often result in significant limitations, such as ventricular dysfunction and inadequate cardiac output. These conditions are frequently recognized as approved disabilities for Social Security disability benefits, especially when associated with repeated hospitalizations or serious symptoms.
Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)

There are many types of arrhythmias. They are identified by where in the heart they occur and by what happens to the heart’s rhythm. Arrhythmias starting in the lower chambers caused by heart disease are the most serious.
Congenital heart defects

An individual who undergoes surgery for a congenital heart defect or acquired heart disease may qualify for disability benefits for at least 12 months after surgical treatment of heart valve or lesions, or insertion of a pacemaker.
Diabetes

May qualify for disability benefits if it leads to severe complications like neuropathy, vision loss, or organ damage that limit daily functioning.

12.4%Benefits awarded in 2024

Neoplasms (Cancer)

Neoplasms are abnormal masses of tissue. They are also called tumors. They may be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). The SSA reports that 12.4 percent of benefits awarded in 2024 went to individuals with this type of disorder. Mesothelioma and lung cancer are common types of cancers reported by workers.

Disability Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions are most approved for disability?
Musculoskeletal conditions (arthritis, back pain) account for 32% of approved claims. Mental disorders represent about 20% of approvals. Heart disease, cancer, and nervous system conditions also have high approval rates.

What should I not do when applying for Social Security disability?
Don’t underestimate your symptoms, skip doctor appointments, or submit incomplete medical records. Always document how your condition limits daily activities and work capacity.

What happens if I get denied for disability?
You can appeal within 60 days. Many claims are approved on appeal, especially with legal representation. Hardison & Cochran can help you file a Request for Reconsideration or request a hearing.

What is the SSA Blue Book?
The Blue Book is the SSA’s official listing of impairments that qualify for disability benefits. It details the medical criteria for each condition.

Nervous System and Sense Organs

According to the SSA, approximately 9.6 percent of claimants awarded disability benefits in 2023 had neurological disorders. Examples include:

Parkinson’s Disease

If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease or Parkinsonian syndrome and are no longer able to work, you may quality for disability benefits. Individuals must exhibit extreme limitations in motor function in arms or legs, resulting in limitation in the ability to stand from a seated position, balance while walking or using the arms, or limitations on physical functioning and impacts on understanding or applying information and interacting with others.
Neuralgia

This chronic pain related to trigeminal neuralgia affects part of your face and can be sudden and excruciating. Neuralgia can be difficult to diagnose. A knowledgeable SSD attorney can help you determine whether your diagnosis may qualify for disability benefits.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

(ME)—CFS is a systemic disorder involving complex symptoms that vary in severity and duration. It causes prolonged fatigue that lasts six months or longer and results in substantial reduction in work, personal and social activities. A diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome when accompanied by appropriate medical evidence may be the basis for a disability finding.
Blindness

There are special disability rules for people who are blind or have limited vision, recognizing the effect of blindness on an individual’s ability to work. You are considered blind under Social Security’s definition if your vision cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in your better eye. If you are blind, you may earn some money and still qualify for disability benefits.
Sciatica

If your sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed, you may suffer severe pain including lower back pain and shooting pain in the legs. Sciatica can limit your ability to handle the physical demands of a job or stay on your feet for any length of time. The question claims examiners will weigh is whether the individual has sought sufficient treatment.
Hearing loss

You may qualify for disability benefits if you are profoundly deaf, but moderate hearing loss does not qualify as disabling hearing loss, according to the SSA.

9.6%Benefits awarded in 2024

Other Conditions That Could Entitle You to Benefits

Several other conditions may be disabling and entitle you to receive SSD benefits, including Chronic migraines, Autoimmune system disorders (such as lupus), Digestive system disorders (such as Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome), Genitourinary system disorders (such as kidney disease), Respiratory system disorders (emphysema, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD).

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How We Helped Our Clients with Social Security Disability Benefits

Contact Hardison & Cochran Lawyers Today for Disability Benefits

The SSA maintains a list of impairments that are considered so severe that they automatically qualify one for disability benefits as long as all other requirements are met. These conditions are found in the SSA’s “Blue Book,” which describes the medical evidence that is needed to prove the impairment.

You can also be declared disabled if you have a condition that is considered to be equal in severity to a listed impairment.

Even if you don’t have a listed impairment or one considered equal in severity to a listed one, you may still be deemed to be disabled if you can show that your medical condition keeps you from working or doing any other type of work.

Allow Hardison & Cochran to put its skill and experience to work for you in seeking disability benefits. In particular, we can help you to gather the medical evidence you need to show you are disabled.

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