WAG 05-06-01-a:Medical Conditions Considered Permanently Disabling By SSA

When determining qualifying member status, the following medical conditions meet Social Security Administration's (SSA) requirements as permanently disabling:

• Permanent loss of use of both hands, both feet, or one hand and one foot.
• Amputation of leg at hip.
• Amputation of leg or foot because of diabetes mellitus or peripheral vascular diseases.
• Total deafness not correctable by surgery or hearing aid.
• Statutory blindness, except if due to cataracts or detached retina.
• IQ of 59 or less established after reaching age 16.
• Spinal cord or nerve root lesions resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia.
• Multiple sclerosis where there is damage to the nervous system because of scattered areas of inflammation that recur and have progressed to varied interference with the function of the nervous system, including severe muscle weaknesses, paralysis, and vision and speech defects.
• Muscular dystrophy with irreversible wasting of the muscles with a significant effect on the ability to use the arms and/or legs.
• Impaired renal function due to chronic renal disease (documented by persistent adverse objective findings) resulting in severely reduced function that may require dialysis or kidney transplant.
• Amputation of a limb, on a person age 55 or older.

If the medical condition is not obvious, the person must provide a statement from a physician, or a licensed or certified psychologist that they are permanently disabled due to one of the above conditions.