According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), hundreds of mental and physical health conditions can qualify as an eligible disability when seeking disability benefits. However, nothing is more discouraging than finding out that the health struggle you are dealing with does not count. Many people, when they first look into these benefits, ask, “Which conditions do not count as a disability?” At Gade & Parekh, LLP, our lawyers can answer that question.
Conditions That Do Not Count as Disability
The Social Security Administration publishes a list of medical conditions that allow people to become eligible for disability benefits in California. This list is known as the Blue Book. You can access this list online or at your Social Security Administration office. There are several conditions listed here, including cancers, heart issues, anxiety and depression, and problems that involve the musculoskeletal system of the body.
In order for a disability to reach the requirements to be included in the Blue Book, the disability must significantly impact your ability to maintain consistent or long-term work. In most cases, this means that a condition deemed to be short-term will not qualify you for California disability benefits. These conditions can include:
- Concussions
- Flu
- Cold
- Appendicitis
- Sprains, strains, or other injuries that can heal relatively quickly
- Partial vision loss, or vision loss in only one eye
- Issues that have been self-diagnosed and not verified by a doctor
- Symptoms that are not diagnosed or treated by a doctor
- Mild chronic pain issues
In general terms, the conditions that do not qualify as disability boil down to this: if the condition is not expected to keep you from going to work in the long term, you will not be eligible for benefits.
How to Determine Your Eligibility for SSDI Benefits
To become eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, there are a few requirements you must meet. These requirements include the fact that you have worked jobs that are covered by Social Security and that your medical condition is in the Blue Book, meaning it meets the strict definition laid out by the Social Security Administration for disability.
In most cases, the SSA will pay monthly benefits to individuals who are unable to work for at least a year or 12 consecutive months because of their disability.
Ensuring that you can get benefits might be as simple as going to your doctor and receiving an official diagnosis. It can be vital to have these medical records as part of the evidence submitted alongside your application. If you don’t have a letter of diagnosis or other forms of medical documentation, you will most likely fail to prove that you meet the requirements laid out in the Blue Book.
Additionally, when looking to see if you qualify for disability benefits, the SSA will ask five questions to determine whether your condition counts under its disability definition. These questions are:
- Are you working? In 2025, if your earnings averaged more than $1,620, or $2,700 in the case that you are blind, per month, you will most likely not be considered to have a disability. If you don’t work or were not working with substantial gainful activity (SGA), your application will be forwarded to the Disability Determination Services office, and they will make a decision regarding your medical condition.
- Is your condition listed in the Blue Book? If the Blue Book does not list your condition, the SSA will need to decide if it is as severe as a medical condition that is listed. If it is, the SSA will find your disability to be qualified. If they do not, they will move on with further questions.
- Is your condition severe? Under the guidelines provided by the SSA, the condition you have must substantially hurt or limit your ability to take part in work-related actions, such as standing, sitting, walking, remembering, or lifting, for at least 12 consecutive calendar months. If it does not match this qualification, your disability will not count.
- Are you able to perform work that you did previously? If the SSA decides that your impairment or condition keeps you from being able to perform the duties of your previous work, you will proceed to the final step. If it does not, your application will be denied.
- Are you able to do another type of work? If you are no longer able to take part in your previous type of work, the Social Security Administration will look into the possibility of you being able to do other kinds of work despite your disability. If you can perform other work, your claim will be denied.
FAQs
Q: What Illnesses Automatically Qualify for Disability?
A: When seeking Social Security Disability Insurance, there are several medical conditions that can automatically qualify you for benefits, including Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), certain forms of cancer such as acute leukemia, small cell lung cancer, thyroid cancer, kidney cancer, adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, and pulmonary atresia.
Q: What Factors Are Considered When Deciding Your Eligibility for SSDI?
A: When you apply for SSDI in California, there are several factors the SSA will look at to determine your eligibility. Besides looking to ensure your condition qualifies, they will look to see if you can perform a different type of work and make their determination based on your age, medical condition, past work experience, education, and any work skills that may transfer to a new mode of employment.
Q: Is Anxiety a Disability?
A: Yes, anxiety is considered a disability under the SSA’s Blue Book as long as the SSA deems that your condition affects your ability to work with substantial gainful activity. However, if your anxiety condition is manageable through medication or it does not impact your ability to function at work on a normal basis, your application will most likely be denied.
Q: What Other Reasons Are There Why You Might Not Qualify for SSDI?
A: Despite not having a qualifying medical condition, there are reasons your application for SSDI in California may be denied. First, your disability may have been sustained due to a substance abuse issue, like alcoholism or a drug addiction. Second, your income might be deemed too high. Finally, you may have failed to provide the necessary health information or failed to follow through with your doctor’s treatment plan.
Knowing the Limits of SSDI in California: Contact Gade & Parekh, LLP, Today
If you have questions regarding your eligibility for disability benefits in California, the team at Gade & Parekh, LLP, is here to listen to your concerns. For over two decades, we have been working to ensure our clients get the benefits they deserve. Contact our offices today to learn more about our services and to schedule your initial consultation.
