It appears clear that budget cuts to the government are coming. I think it is safe to assume that the Social Security Administration will not escape these cuts. For those of you relying on your Social Security disability benefits or for those who have claims pending the most obvious fear is whether or not benefits will be cut. I will give you my best guess as to how budget cuts will impact the Social Security Administration. I certainly think we will see many Social Security field offices closed and this will result in fewer offices handling more cases. I do not think we will see a reduction in anyone's benefits. However, it is possible that Social Security could raise the age of retirement age and the age categories in the medical vocational guidelines. If you've spent any time reading my website you know that at 50 years old in many cases it can become easier to get your Social Security disability benefits then for those under 50 years old. Social Security could change that category from 50 to 55 to 52 to 57. This is something they have attempted to do in the past but were unable to implement. I think the biggest impact budget cuts could have will be on the amount of time it takes to get a decision on a Social Security disability or SSI claim. I have no idea how much Social Security Administration's budget will be cut or what their plans are to deal with these cuts but I have given you my best guess as to what they may do.

I frequently get asked whether certain medical conditions are considered a disability by Social Security. For the most part, winning a Social Security disability claim often has very little to do with the name of your medical condition. What matters is how your medical condition limits you in your ability to work. Social Security does have a medical listing of impairments and here you would look up the name of your medical condition to see if you meet or equal the requirements of the listing. However, if you do not meet or equal a listed impairment, which most cases will not, then you must be able to show that the limitations from all your medical conditions would prevent you from working. There are other factors to be considered here as well such as age, education, and past work experience; however, to have a good shot at winning you must be able to prove through medical evidence and opinion evidence from your treating doctors that your medical conditions prevent you from working because you cannot do the physical or mental requirements of a significant number of jobs. So what I am trying to say here is if you are considering applying for Social Security disability benefits don't be so concerned with the name of your diagnosis. It is better to think of how your medical conditions are affecting you physically and mentally and preventing you from working.