| ial Security Administration or SSA manages two | | | | medical sources" as defined by the SSA to be |
| programs, the Supplemental Security Income or | | | | considered as a medically determinable impairment. |
| SSI and the Social Security Disability Insurance or | | | | The following are the "acceptable medical |
| SSDI. Both give benefits to individuals based on | | | | sources": |
| their disabilities. | | | | Licensed physicians, either osteopathic or |
| The SSI program provides benefits to people | | | | medical doctors |
| who have disabilities and have no or limited | | | | Licensed or certified psychologists (this |
| income and resources, including children under the | | | | includes school psychologists or other licensed or |
| age of 18. | | | | certified individuals who do the same work as |
| The SSDI program pays benefits to people and | | | | school psychologists but only with a different title) |
| certain members of the family if one has worked | | | | Licensed podiatrists |
| long enough and paid Social Security taxes. An | | | | Licensed optometrists |
| adult child may also be eligible for benefits of one's | | | | Qualified speech-language pathologists |
| earnings record if his/her disability started before | | | | ("qualified" meaning he/she must be fully certified |
| the age of 22. | | | | by the State education agency in the State |
| The Social Security Disability Insurance and SSI | | | | where he/she practices, hold a Certificate of |
| programs have rules in deciding if a person is | | | | Clinical Competence given by the American |
| considered "disabled" and that he/she is eligible for | | | | Speech-Language-Hearing Association, or licensed |
| the benefits. | | | | by the State professional licensing agency). |
| Disability is defined by the law as the inability to | | | | Medical reports from physicians, psychologists, and |
| engage in any SGA or substantial gainful activity | | | | other health professionals about an individual's |
| because of one or more medically determinable | | | | impairment are needed by the Social Security |
| mental or physical impairment/s. To be eligible for | | | | Administration. Medical reports should include the |
| the benefits, impairments should be expected to | | | | following: |
| continue for at least 12 months or expected to | | | | Medical history |
| cause death. | | | | Laboratory findings (such as x-rays, blood |
| For a child under the age of 18 to be considered | | | | pressure) |
| disabled, he/she must have one or more medically | | | | Clinical findings (such as the results of mental |
| determinable mental or physical impairment/s, | | | | or physical status examinations) |
| which can also be expected to continue for at | | | | Diagnosis |
| least 12 months or can be expected to cause | | | | Treatment prescribed with prognosis and |
| death. | | | | response |
| A medically determinable impairment, whether | | | | A statement that gives an opinion about |
| physical or mental, is an impairment that is caused | | | | what the person with disability can still do |
| by psychological, anatomical, or physiological | | | | regardless of his her impairment/s based on the |
| abnormalities that can be shown by laboratory | | | | findings of medical sources |
| and clinical diagnostic techniques that are medically | | | | The SSA considers many factors in giving |
| acceptable. Impairment must be recognized by | | | | benefits to individuals with disability. For you to |
| medical evidence, which consists of the following: | | | | have more chances in claiming the benefits, one |
| Signs | | | | should seek assistance from experienced lawyers |
| Symptoms | | | | in Social Security Disability Law Firms. |
| Laboratory findings | | | | Perhaps, a law firm with notable records in |
| Information about an impairment caused by | | | | providing successful results can help a disabled |
| abnormalities should come from "acceptable | | | | person obtain his/her benefits. |