Qualifying
Disabilities
for SSDI Benefits

Not every condition that may qualify for Social Security disability benefits has a listing in the Blue Book. For example, a person may still qualify for benefits with a non-listed condition such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. However, applicants with non-listed conditions must show that their condition limits their functional ability and prevents them from working.

In other words, you may still qualify for Social Security disability benefits, even if you do not have a medical condition listed in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book. When the SSA reviews your disability benefits application, it will consider whether you have a medical condition listed in the Blue Book or whether your condition “equals” the severity of a listed condition, potentially entitling you to a medical-vocational allowance.

Claims reviewers assess the severity of conditions by evaluating whether an applicant has a “residual functional capacity” (RFC). During the RFC determination, the SSA will look at the medical and vocational evidence to determine what basic work tasks (e.g., standing, sitting, lifting, following instructions, remembering things) you can perform and whether you need accommodations to perform them. Based on the work tasks you can perform despite the limitations imposed by your condition, the SSA will consider whether you can perform a job you’ve held in the past.

In the event that you cannot, the SSA will then consider whether you can do other jobs that exist in substantial numbers in the national economy, given your age, education, training, skills, and work experience. Should your non-listed condition limit you from doing any generally available work, the SSA may deem you disabled and eligible for disability benefits.