Appendix A: Characteristics of SSI/SSDI Individuals

If the client has any of the following Presumptive Impairments, he may meet the SSI/SSDI disability criteria:

Presumptive Impairments

1. Amputation of two limbs

2. Amputation of a leg at the hip

3. Total deafness

4. Total blindness

5. Bed confinement or immobility without a wheelchair, walker, or crutched due to a condition that has lasted or is expected to last a minimum of six months.

6. Stroke more than three months ago with marked difficulty walking or using a hand or an arm

7. Cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and marked difficulty walking, speaking or coordinating hands or arms

8. Diabetes with amputation of a foot

9. Down’s Syndrome

10. Severe mental deficiency requiring care and supervision of routine daily activities

11. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

If the client has three of the following physical, mental, or vocational factors, he may meet the SSI/SSDI disability criteria. At least one of the factors must be physical or mental. Any one physical or mental problem, if sever enough, may meet the SSI/SSDI disability criteria.

Physical Factors

12. Multiple hospitalizations in the last five years for any cause

13. Arthritis with complaints of joint pain/swelling/redness/deformity. Bone destruction of ankles, knees, hips, reconstructive surgery. Difficulty bending or moving.

14. Arthritic condition with frequent fractures (Osteoporosis)

15. Bad back/herniated disk with complaint of pain, difficulty bending, sitting, walking

16. Inability to use artificial limbs/amputation of leg above ankle – irritations, infections

17. Fractures of a limb that will not heal or multiple surgeries to correct a fracture

18. Soft tissue injuries requiring multiple surgeries to correct (torn ligaments, muscles, tendons, etc.)

19. Deafness not fully restored by hearing aid, with defective speech

20. Loss of vision in one eye and remaining vision is not well corrected with glasses

21. Chronic breathing problems

22. Coronary artery disease with recent heart attack, shortness of breath, chest pain, arm pain, heart palpitations, chest tightness

23. High blood pressure with damage to other organs, i.e., kidneys, eyes, etc.

24. Chest pain from the heart (angina) medicated with Nitroglycerin

25. Chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, hepatitis

26. Recurrent bleeding ulcer despite surgery. Ulcers that are inoperable and weight loss

27. Chron’s disease/colitis with frequent bloody stools and severe weight loss

28. Weight loss due to a digestive disorder such as throat blockage, intestinal obstruction or abscesses

29. Chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis or kidney transplant

30. Chronic anemia (low blood count)

31. Sickle cell disease

32. Leukemia/Myeloma/Aplastic anemia (blood disorders)

33. Thyroid disorder with bone deterioration

34. Diabetes with other organ damage – eyes, kidney, pancreas or amputations

35. Leprosy (Hansen’s disease)

36. Lupus

37. Obesity with

38. Malnutrition due to eating disorders

39. Epilepsy with uncontrolled seizures

40. Stroke with

41. Brain tumor(s)

42. Parkinson’s disease/Cerebral Palsy/Multiple Sclerosis/Myasthenia Gravis/Muscular Dystrophy/Huntington’s chorea/Head trauma/Syringomyelia

43. Cancer of any body organ or system

44. HIV positive and other symptoms present

Mental Factors

45. Organic mental disorder – damage to the brain due to any cause, resulting in a change in behavior

46. Schizophrenia

47. Depression, manic, manic/depression

48. Mental retardation/unable to handle interview without assistance

49. Anxiety related disorder/post traumatic stress disorder

50. Somatoform disorder – physical complaints of which there is not objective medical basis

51. Personality disorder

52. Psychiatric hospitalization within the last five years

53. Currently receiving psychiatric/psychological treatment either private or through MH/MR

54. Work history of numerous jobs of short duration

55. Abnormal or bizarre behavior

56. Unusual speech patterns such as extreme rapid speech, very slow speech, or the individual goes off on a tangent

57. Unusual or unpredictable mood swings

58. Abnormal thought patterns such as paranoia, delusions, hallucinations or suicidal thoughts

59. Disorientation and confusion

60. Poor personal hygiene or bizarre appearance

Vocational Factors

These factors should be considered in conjunction with the above described criteria and not as sole factors.

Children

In addition to all the above mentioned physical and mental factors, the worker should assess if the child is able to grow develop or mature, physically, emotionally, and mentally and to attain age appropriate developmental milestones. Ascertain if the child has the inability to engage in age appropriate activities of daily living in:

Issued: June 13, 2003; reviewed March 16, 2012