To decide whether you are disabled, the Social Security
Administration uses a step-by-step process involving five questions:
1. Are
you working?
If you are working in 2006 and your earnings
average more than $860 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled.
2. Is
your condition "severe"?
Your condition must interfere with basic
work-related activities for your claim to be considered. If it does not, the Social
Security Administration will find that you are not disabled.
3. Is
your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?
For each of the major body systems, the Social Security
Administration maintain a list of medical conditions
that are so severe they automatically mean that you are disabled. If your
condition is not on the list, the Social Security Administration has to decide
if it is of equal severity to a medical condition that is on the list.
4. Can
you do the work you did previously?
If your condition is severe but not at the same or
equal level of severity as a medical condition on the list, then the Social Security
Administration must determine if it interferes with your ability to do the work
you did previously.
5. Can
you do any other type of work?
If you cannot do the work you did in the past, the Social
Security Administration looks to see if you are able to adjust to other work. They
consider your medical conditions and your age, education, past work experience
and any transferable skills you may have.