Conditions That Qualify for Disability

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects focus, impulse control, and behavior. SSA evaluates how severely your ADHD symptoms limit your ability to think, remember, complete tasks, and interact with others at work.

Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) are mental health conditions that can severely limit a person's ability to work and carry out daily activities. SSA evaluates these conditions by looking at your documented diagnosis alongside how significantly your symptoms affect your ability to function in daily life and at work.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts socially, and processes the world around them. The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates ASD claims under Blue Book Listing 12.10, which requires meeting both a set of medical criteria (Part A) and a set of functional criteria (Part B). SSA reviews medical records, evaluations, and real-world functional limitations to determine whether the condition is severe enough to qualify for disability benefits.

Dementia and neurocognitive disorders are conditions that cause a significant decline in one or more areas of mental functioning, such as memory, attention, language, or the ability to make decisions. SSA evaluates these conditions primarily under Blue Book Listing 12.02 (Neurocognitive Disorders). To qualify, your medical records must satisfy the listing's combined criteria — either parts A and B, or parts A and C — which assess both the documented medical findings and the functional impact the condition has on your daily life.

Depression and bipolar disorder are serious mood disorders that can make it very difficult to work or carry out daily activities. SSA evaluates these conditions under Blue Book Listing 12.04, which covers depressive, bipolar, and related disorders. To qualify, your medical records must satisfy specific criteria sets outlined in the listing — either a combination of criteria A and B, or criteria A and C — demonstrating that your symptoms and their impact on your functioning are severe enough to prevent you from maintaining substantial gainful employment.

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions — such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder — that significantly affect a person's relationship with food, body image, and overall health. SSA evaluates eating disorder claims under Blue Book Listing 12.13, which requires meeting both a set of medical criteria (Part A) and a set of functional limitation criteria (Part B). Your records must show both that you have a diagnosed eating disorder and that it significantly limits your ability to function in daily life.

Intellectual disability (also called intellectual disorder) refers to significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior that begin during the developmental period. SSA evaluates intellectual disability claims under Blue Book Listing 12.05, which covers intellectual disorder. To qualify, your medical records and history must show that your condition meets specific criteria outlined under either Paragraph A or Paragraph B of that listing. SSA looks at both your cognitive abilities and how well you can function in everyday life.

Personality disorders are long-term patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that cause serious problems in daily life and relationships. SSA evaluates how severely your symptoms limit your ability to work, interact with others, manage yourself, and concentrate.

PTSD and other trauma-related disorders are mental health conditions that develop after a person experiences or witnesses a deeply distressing event. The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates these conditions under Blue Book Listing 12.15, which covers trauma- and stressor-related disorders. To qualify for disability benefits, your medical records must satisfy specific criteria that demonstrate how severely your condition limits your ability to function in daily life and work. SSA reviews documentation from mental health professionals and other medical sources to make this determination.

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are serious mental health conditions that can severely affect a person's ability to think clearly, manage emotions, and function in daily life or at work. SSA evaluates these conditions under Blue Book Listing 12.03, which covers schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. To qualify, your medical records must satisfy either a combination of criteria sets A and B, or criteria sets A and C, as defined in the listing. SSA will review your symptoms, how long they have lasted, and how much they limit your ability to function.

Somatic Symptom Disorder is a mental health condition where distressing physical symptoms—and the anxiety around them—interfere with daily life and work. SSA evaluates it by looking at how severely your symptoms limit your thinking, social functioning, and ability to manage everyday tasks.