Listing of Impairments

What is the Listing of Impairments?

The Listing of Impairments (LoI) is a list of medical conditions that are considered severe enough by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to automatically qualify an individual for disability benefits. The LoI is a detailed guide that describes the criteria that the SSA uses to evaluate specific medical conditions for disability benefits.

When an individual applies for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, the SSA will use the LoI to determine if the individual's medical condition meets or equals the criteria for any of the listed impairments. If the SSA finds that the individual's medical condition meets or equals the criteria for a listed impairment, the individual will be considered disabled and will be approved for benefits without the need for further evaluation.

What makes up the Listing of Impairments?

The LoI is divided into several sections, each covering a specific body system, such as the musculoskeletal system, respiratory system, or the nervous system. Each section contains a list of medical conditions and the criteria the SSA uses to evaluate them.

For example, if an individual has a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, the SSA will look at the criteria listed under the nervous system section of the LoI. If the individual's symptoms and medical evidence meet the criteria listed, they will be considered disabled and will be approved for benefits.

It's important to note that the LoI is not an exhaustive list of all the medical conditions that can qualify for disability benefits. The SSA may still approve an individual for benefits if their medical condition does not meet the criteria for a listed impairment but it still prevents them from working. In this case, the SSA will evaluate the individual's residual functional capacity (RFC), which is the individual's ability to perform work-related activities despite their medical condition.

The SSA will also consider the individual's age, education, and work experience when making a determination of disability. If the SSA finds that the individual is unable to perform any work that they have done in the past, or any other work that is available in the national economy, the SSA will approve the individual for benefits.

In conclusion, the Listing of Impairments (LoI) is a list of medical conditions that are considered severe enough by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to automatically qualify an individual for disability benefits. When an individual applies for SSD benefits, the SSA will use the LoI to determine if the individual's medical condition meets or equals the criteria for any of the listed impairments. If the SSA finds that the individual's medical condition meets or equals the criteria for a listed impairment, the individual will be considered disabled and will be approved for benefits without the need for further evaluation. It's important to note that the LoI is not an exhaustive list of all the medical conditions that can qualify for disability benefits, and the SSA may still approve an individual for benefits if their medical condition does not meet the criteria for a listed impairment but it still prevents them from working, and SSA will consider the individual's age, education, and work experience when making a determination of disability.