What Conditions Automatically Qualify You for Disability?

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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), there are 8,600,000 people receiving 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 which can be expected to result in death or which has 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 the condition automatically qualifies 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.

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

  • muscle icon
    Musculoskeletal system and connective problems including:
    • Arthritis
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Back pain
    • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
    • Musculoskeletal disorder
  • brain icon
    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
  • heart icon
    Cardiovascular conditions and circulatory disorders:
    • Angina
    • Heart diseases
    • Hypertension
    • Chronic heart failure
    • Congestive heart failure
  • cancer cell icon
    Cancer
  • nervous system icon
    Nervous system and sense organs conditions:
    • Parkinson’s diseases
    • Blindness
    • Epilepsy
    • Hearing loss
    • Cerebral palsy
    • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis