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Social Security Disability(111 articles)

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Symptom journal and calendar tracking flare-ups and good days for an episodic medical condition.

Episodic Conditions Disability: Can You Qualify for SSDI?

Oct 5, 2026 | Social Security Disability, Walter Blakeney

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Many people assume they cannot qualify for Social Security Disability because their symptoms are not severe every day. However, episodic conditions disability claims are common when a medical condition causes recurring flare-ups that make it difficult to maintain consistent, full-time work. If your symptoms come and go, the Social Security …

read more: Episodic Conditions Disability: Can You Qualify for SSDI?
Employee experiencing difficulty concentrating while working at a computer, illustrating how mental health conditions can affect the ability to perform work-related tasks.

Mental vs. Physical RFC: How SSA Evaluates You

Oct 1, 2026 | Social Security Disability, Walter Blakeney

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes When applying for Social Security disability benefits, a diagnosis is only part of the evaluation. Social Security also considers how a person’s medically determinable conditions affect what they can still do in a work setting. This assessment is known as residual functional capacity, or RFC. It may include physical limitations, …

read more: Mental vs. Physical RFC: How SSA Evaluates You
Mental health disability evidence represented by a head silhouette with puzzle pieces

Medical Evidence Needed for a Mental Health Disability Claim

Sep 24, 2026 | Social Security Disability, Joseph Campbell

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes A mental health diagnosis can affect nearly every part of daily life, but a diagnosis alone does not automatically qualify someone for Social Security Disability benefits. Social Security looks for medical evidence for a mental health disability claim that shows both the existence, duration, and severity of that condition, as …

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Woman experiencing dizziness from POTS, a condition that may qualify for Social Security Disability

POTS Social Security Disability: Can You Qualify?

Sep 10, 2026 | Social Security Disability

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Living with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, can make standing, concentrating, exercising, and completing daily activities difficult. For some people, those symptoms may also interfere with the ability to work on a regular and sustained basis. A diagnosis of POTS does not automatically qualify someone for Social Security Disability …

read more: POTS Social Security Disability: Can You Qualify?
Person circling a date on a calendar beside paperwork, representing the importance of the date last insured in an SSDI claim.

What Does Date Last Insured Mean for Social Security Disability?

Aug 27, 2026 | Social Security Disability, Walter Blakeney

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Being unable to work today does not always mean a person currently meets the work-related requirements for Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI. In addition to reviewing the medical condition, Social Security considers whether the applicant was still insured through their work history when the disability began. An important date …

read more: What Does Date Last Insured Mean for Social Security Disability?
Medical report form on a clipboard next to a pen, tablet, and stethoscope for a Social Security Disability claim.

Gaps in Medical Care & Disability Claims

Aug 10, 2026 | Social Security Disability, Walter Blakeney

When you apply for Social Security disability, your medical records tell the story of your condition and how it affects your life. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will review your medical history for steady, consistent evidence of how your condition has affected your ability to work. Your disability application could face challenges if your records …

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Medical provider wearing blue scrubs gently holding an elderly patient's hand for compassionate care and Social Security Disability support.

Fast-Track Disability: Compassionate Allowances

Aug 6, 2026 | Social Security Disability, Walter Blakeney

Living with a severe disability can be challenging, especially when it affects your ability to work and support yourself. The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes this struggle and has implemented the Compassionate Allowances Program to help individuals with certain medical conditions get the support they need more quickly. What is the Compassionate Allowances Program? The …

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An empty school classroom desk with a standardized test bubble sheet, a question booklet, and a pencil resting on top.

What Social Security Looks For in Intellectual Disability Claims

Jul 30, 2026 | Social Security Disability, Walter Blakeney

Families often come to us with the same worry: My child (or my adult son or daughter) has struggled their whole life, but Social Security keeps asking for more proof. What are they really looking for? How SSA Evaluates Intellectual Disability Claims For adults, the SSA has a five-step process to help determine if you …

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How to Prepare for Social Security Disability Administrative Law Judge Review

How to Prepare for Social Security Disability Administrative Law Judge Review

Jul 20, 2026 | Social Security Disability, Walter Blakeney

When a disability case reaches an Administrative Law Judge, many people already feel frustrated. They have filed an initial application, waited months, received a denial, and then repeated the process at the reconsideration level. A hearing before a judge can feel intimidating, but it is also an important chance to explain your case more fully. …

read more: How to Prepare for Social Security Disability Administrative Law Judge Review