What Do I Do If I Don’t Meet a Blue Book Listing?

You probably worry if your health condition doesn’t meet a Blue Book listing when claiming disability benefits. You fear losing a chance to receive the benefits as the Blue Book is the primary criteria for qualifying disabilities.

The good news is that you may still qualify for benefits even if your condition doesn’t meet a Blue Book listing. You only have to prove your disability through other means by presenting sufficient evidence and requirements to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

This article explains how you can prove your disability when claiming benefits.

What Is the SSA Blue Book

 

The Blue Book is a set of criteria that the SSA uses when approving disability claims. It contains listings for different health conditions that may qualify as disabilities.

For example, You should refer to listing 4.00 to check the criteria for cardiovascular ailments if you suffer from heart disease.
Proving a Disability that Doesn’t Meet a Blue Book Listing
The Blue Book is an excellent standard to speed up the disability claim process but cannot evaluate conditions that are not listed.

In this case, you must use other methods to prove to the SSA that your condition causes particular limitations and make you suffer. For example, you can prove that:

• Your condition makes simple tasks like eating, bathing, or dressing up difficult
• You cannot work full-time and earn enough for your daily expenses because of the disability
• You require intensive treatments like frequent hospitalization

Now, here are the alternative methods to use to prove your disability aside from the Blue Book listing:

1. Hire a Social Security Benefits Lawyer]

Consulting a Burbank Social Security benefits lawyer helps prepare your disability claim and ensures you get approved by the SSA. They know the vital documents that could prove you deserve the benefits, even if your condition doesn’t meet a Blue Book listing.

Moreover, they can represent you in a disability hearing and convince the SSA about your situation.

2. Fill a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) Form

Request your physician to fill out an RFC form to support your disability claim. The RFC form proves the extent of your disability by detailing the limitations you experience.

For example, it may show you can only sit in an office for up to three hours daily because of excessive back pain. The document may also prove the activities you must avoid, like driving if you have a high risk of losing consciousness.

3. Gather Sufficient Medical Evidence

You should also collect enough medical documents to prove your condition, like:

• Medical reports
• Laboratory test results
• Prescriptions
• Treatment bills

It’s crucial to keep ongoing documentation of your medical records to prove the effort you need for treatment. For example, the latest medication receipts can show you are on continuous treatment to alleviate the symptoms you experience.

4. Prepare Other Documentation

Aside from medical records, you may also present other evidence to the SSA to prove your disability, like:

• A journal detailing the symptoms you experience each day
• Photos and videos showing your functional limitations
• Statements from your family, friends, coworkers, or employer describing your disability

Social Security Benefits Attorney in Burbank to Help You Qualify for Disability Insurance

As you can see, you don’t need to worry about failing to meet the Blue Book listing when claiming disability benefits. You only have to use other methods to prove your disability and that you deserve financial assistance from the SSA.

And a Burbank Social Security benefits lawyer can prove your condition to help claim the insurance you deserve.