Massachusetts Social Security Disability Lawyer Explains Medical-Vocational Allowances in SSDI Applications
When applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), a medical-vocational allowance can serve as an invaluable lifeline. Qualifying for disability benefits can be a difficult process, especially when the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies the majority of claims at the initial phase. A medical-vocational allowance goes beyond medical conditions to consider an applicant’s age, education, and work history.
Exploring the possibility of this path to approval can make a significant difference in the success of an SSDI claim. To get started, consult with the Boston disability lawyers at Keefe Disability Law. We can review your case to see if you are a viable candidate for a medical-vocational allowance.
Qualifying for SSDI by Meeting or Equaling a Blue Book Listing
The traditional pathway to qualifying for SSDI benefits involves meeting or equaling criteria outlined in the SSA’s Blue Book of impairment listings. The Blue Book categorizes eligible medical conditions into broad categories, like musculoskeletal disorders and cancer. Under each category, the Blue Book lists qualifying conditions with specific medical criteria. You must meet these requirements to demonstrate the presence of a severe, long-term disability that prevents you from working.
The Blue Book listing of impairments is helpful to SSDI applicants because it clearly states what criteria they must meet to qualify for benefits. Diagnostic test results must meet certain thresholds, for instance. If an applicant’s condition meets or equals a Blue Book listing, they are presumed to be disabled and eligible for SSDI benefits.
What happens when you don’t meet the strict requirements of a specific Blue Book listing? Does this mean you are not eligible for disability benefits? In truth, most applicants don’t meet these stringent criteria. They qualify for SSDI through a medical-vocational allowance instead.
SSDI Eligibility With a Medical-Vocational Allowance
Whereas qualifying under a Blue Book listing only accounts for medical documentation and evidence, a medical-vocational allowance considers a more comprehensive approach. It factors in an applicant’s age, education, and employment history, as well as the severity of their impairment.
The first three steps of the disability determination process lead to the Blue Book listing. During the fourth and fifth steps, the SSA and Disability Determination Services (DDS) consider medical-vocational allowances. This could apply to a broad range of medical conditions, from prostate cancer to debilitating depression or osteoarthritis.
The fourth step looks at whether you are still able to do your past work despite your impairment. For instance, if you worked as a long-haul truck driver and are still able to sit for long periods of time and have reasonable dexterity, the SSA may deny your claim. With the fifth step, the SSA evaluates whether you can perform any other work. You may have once carried heavy loads in a warehouse, but perhaps you could pivot or shift to a more administrative role.
Getting a Residual Functional Capacity Assessment
To determine whether you are eligible for a medical-vocational allowance, the SSA will require you to complete and submit a residual functional capacity (RFC) assessment. The results of this report serve as crucial evidence in evaluating your SSDI claim for disability benefits.
What Is an RFC Assessment?
The criteria outlined in a SSA Blue Book listing look at the extent and severity of your medical condition. By contrast, an RFC test for SSDI assesses your ability to complete the physical and mental demands of substantial gainful activity (SGA). Rather than focus on lab results, for instance, it looks at your functional capacity to perform work-related activities.
For physical functioning, like your ability to sit, stand, walk, lift, and carry, the SSA considers five levels of exertion. These range from sedentary work, like sitting at a computer, to heavy work, like carrying heavy objects across a construction site. The RFC describes how much weight you can carry, how long you can walk without assistance, and so on.
The greater the level of impairment described in your RFC assessment, the greater your chances of a successful SSDI claim based on a medical-vocational allowance. Along with physical exertion, a mental RFC assessment considers cognitive impairment or mental conditions. Debilitating depression or inability to follow instructions may contribute to your claim’s viability.
How Do You Get an RFC Assessment?
Generally, your treating physician or a consultative examiner appointed by the SSA will complete your RFC form. The assessment is a comprehensive examination of your physical and mental ability to perform work-related activities despite limitations imposed by your disability.
To complete an RFC assessment, your doctor may review your medical records and treatment history. They may also perform a variety of functional testing or evaluations. For instance, if you have arthritis in your hands, your physician may test whether you can still type on a computer keyboard or write legibly using a pen.
Medical-Vocational Grid Rules for SSDI Approval
To determine your SSDI eligibility based on a medical-vocational allowance, the SSA will evaluate your application based on a series of grid rules. “The grids” account for the results of your RFC assessment, as well as your age, educational background, past work experience, and transferable skills.
- The greater the level of disability severity described in your RFC form, the more likely the SSA will approve your application for SSDI benefits.
- Older adults applying for benefits have a greater chance of approval than younger applicants. Individuals over the age of 55 are considered to be of “advanced age.”
- Applicants with a stronger educational background are less likely to be approved for SSDI benefits because the SSA believes they can more easily pivot to other types of work.
- If you are able to continue working jobs similar to those in your recent employment history, the SSA will likely not approve your application.
- If you have transferable skills that allow you to adapt to new kinds of work, the SSA may not approve your SSDI application.
The SSA can determine whether you should receive disability benefit payments by examining the combined impact of these five elements. There are specific grid rules that take the intersectionality of these factors into account.
If two applicants have a similar disability with a similar level of impairment, the SSA may approve the 60-year-old for benefits but deny a 35-year-old. The presumption is that it is more reasonable for the younger individual to go back to school or receive other vocational training to switch to another career where their disability is less of a hindrance.
More Supporting Evidence for Your Disability Benefits Claim
The number one reason why the SSA denies the majority of SSDI applications is a lack of medical evidence. It is absolutely crucial to provide the agency with as much medical information as you can about your condition. This includes treatment history, doctor’s notes, medical imaging, hospital records, and anything else that may help your case.
Keefe Disability Law can work with your health providers to obtain these critical documents in support of your SSDI claim. You can further bolster your SSDI application with an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Questionnaire or a personal disability journal. Make specific note of any changes in treatment or medication and how they affected your ability to perform daily tasks, including those related to work.
Seek the Legal Guidance of an Experienced SSDI Advocate
The Social Security Administration denies as much as two-thirds of all SSDI applications at the initial stage. As mentioned above, many of these denials are due to a lack of medical evidence. Other times, technical errors or missing deadlines are the root cause. By turning to an experienced SSD lawyer, you can avoid many of these common pitfalls.
Our disability law firm has helped countless clients apply for SSDI benefits, advocating for their needs and guiding them through the entire process, including the appeals process if needed.
“This was a year of unknowns,” writes Keefe Disability Law client Troy Young. “I was fortunate to have Patrick [Hartwig] and his staff helping me with disability benefits. I feel they truly understand the stress that comes along with this process. They all listened to me and gave me comfort on every call.”
