SSD BENEFITS FOR MULTIPLE DISABILITIES

CAN YOU GET SSD BENEFITS FOR MULTIPLE DISABILITIES?

When you file an application for SSDI and SSI benefits, the SSA must consider the combined effect of multiple disabilities. For example, if you have degenerative disc disease in your spine, then pain may cause mental issues. Many people experience anxiety and depression when dealing with chronic pain. Therefore, even if spine pain is your main problem, you should also get treatment for mental health.

Often, it is the combination of multiple disabilities that proves you cannot work. You must prove to the SSA that you cannot work for over a year in order to win benefits.

Most people who apply for disability benefits have multiple disabilities. However, even though they have more than one medical problem, most applications focus only on one main medical condition. Normally, people focus on the medical condition that gives them the most pain or trouble. But, you should always include all of your medical conditions on your SSD application. You should do so, even if you don’t think they are important.

APPLY FOR SSDI & SSI BENEFITS FOR MULTIPLE DISABILITIES

If you have multiple disabilities, then there are two types of benefits you can file for under the Social Security program:  Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. In order to receive benefits, you must first file an application. You can do this on Social Security’s website. Below is a short explanation as to each type of benefit you can file for:

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):  

SSDI benefits are for those who have worked in the recent past and can no longer work at any job due to their medical conditions. The amount of money you receive from SSDI benefits is based on the Social Security taxes you paid when working. You can apply for SSDI benefits if you have a disability that is going to prevent you from working for over one year.

To qualify for SSDI, you must have enough “work credits.” A work credit is an amount of taxable income. You can earn up to 4 work credits per year. The amount of work credits you need depends on how old you are when you apply. If you haven’t earned enough work credits for your age at the time you apply, then you will only qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI):  

SSI is a needs based benefit. It is for people with little to no income, such as children and the elderly. Anyone who makes more than a certain amount of money per month cannot receive SSI benefits. The SSA counts the income of those in your house, not just your income.

If you have a spouse who earns more than $5000 a month, for example, then that income will prevent you from getting SSI benefits. You cannot qualify for SSI benefits for multiple disabilities, if you do not meet the income and asset rules for SSI.

WE CAN HELP FILE YOUR SSDI & SSI APPLICATIONS

While many people seeking disability benefits apply on their own, we do not think that is the best course of action. The SSA looks for particular information to see if your disability qualifies for benefits. Do you know what that information is?

If not, then why not hire an SSD lawyer? The lawyer can submit your information for you. This may shorten the waiting time for a decision. However, even if you hire a lawyer to submit your application, you may still receive a denial. Most people receive a denial after the initial application. Because the SSA denies almost 90% of applications. Do not give up.

If you receive a denial, make sure you file a timely appeal. You have 60 days from the date on the denial.

If DDS denies your claim for multiple disabilities, then file an appeal. You’re more likely to win your Social Security benefits on appeal than at the application stage. Hire an experienced lawyer to help with your appeal. It will improve your odds of winning benefits.

If you win benefits, the SSA will send you an award letter. The award letter will explain your monthly benefit amount. It will also state if the SSA owes you past due benefits.  Additionally, the award letter will tell you when you will receive your future benefit payments.

WHEN DOES THE SSA CONSIDER MULTIPLE DISABILITIES?

The law requires the SSA to consider all of your medical conditions. Therefore, your physical and mental conditions need to be part of your application for SSDI and SSI benefits.

The SSA considers the combined effects of multiple disabilities during certain parts of the five step disability review process. First, they will examine the medical records for all of your physical and mental conditions when they decide if you equal a listing under step three. Second, they will also consider multiple disabilities when they define your residual functional capacity (RFC).

Social Security considers all medical conditions, even those that are not severe. In Social Security Ruling 85-28, the SSA states they must consider even “non-severe” impairments when evaluating your disability claim. This means that even if a medical condition is not severe on its own, the combined effect of multiple non-severe conditions could still result in a finding of disability. A medical condition that is not severe means that the evidence shows only a slight abnormality. It also means the condition has minimal impact on your ability to work.

In our experience, the SSA often ignores this ruling. For example, if the SSA states that your hand pain is not severe, then a judge may overlook that condition. But, the judge is not supposed to do that. The judge should include hand pain and even minor hand limitations in your claim. A minor hand problem could prevent you from typing throughout the work day. Therefore, it could eliminate many jobs. Or, in combination with multiple disabilities, it may prove you cannot work.

Often, the attorney must bring this issue to the judge’s attention.  If you don’t have an attorney, then you may not know how to argue this point.

The SSA has a list of disabilities, the “Blue Book,” for which they will pay benefits. If you have a medical condition with all of the symptoms on the list, then you “meet” a listing. You can win benefits if you meet a listing. However, if you have multiple disabilities, none of which meet a listing, then the combination of your medical conditions can “equal” a listing.

The Listing of Impairments includes both physical and mental conditions that prevent you from working. The Listing  is divided into 14 major body systems. Within each system, the listing contains a number of conditions that impact specific parts of the body. For example, the Listing includes medical conditions such as asthma, hearing loss. However, it also includes mental diseases like PTSD and OCD.

It’s important to know that not all medical conditions are in the Blue Book. In cases where your disability does not meet a specific listing, the SSA will assess whether your condition prevents you from working. They will also consider whether your medical condition will last for at least 12 months or result in death.

IF YOU DON’T EQUAL A LISTING, USE YOUR RFC TO WIN BENEFITS

Even if the combined effects of your conditions don’t equal a listing, you can still win benefits if you prove your multiple disabilities keep you from working.

To determine whether you can work, the SSA will define your RFC. In essence, these means they will define what you can physically and mentally do during an 8 hour work day. Your RFC describes what you are able to do despite the impact of all your medical conditions.

The more restrictions you have, the less likely you will be able to work a 40 hour work week. For example, you may not be able to lift more than 10 pounds. You may not be able to concentrate for more than 15 minutes at a time. Problems with your arms, hands and fingers may prevent you from typing or picking up small objects. If you cannot sit or stand for long periods, then there are many jobs you cannot perform.

These are only some of examples of how multiple disabilities chip away at your ability to complete a full work day. That is why it is important to document all of your medical conditions. Because they all matter to the SSA. When you leave out a mental condition, for example, then the judge will believe you can focus, concentrate, and follow instructions. Even though that might not really be the case.

DO THE MEDICAL VOCATIONAL GUIDELINES APPLY TO MULTIPLE DISABILITIES?

The SSA uses your RFC to decide if you can do your past work under step four of the review process. The SSA first compares the requirements of your past job to what you can do now. For example, if you had to lift 50 pounds on your past job and now you can only lift 10 pounds, then you can’t return to your old job.

Next, the SSA tries to determine whether you can perform other jobs with your RFC. For example, if you can only lift 10 pounds, then it is likely that all you can perform is a desk job. Would you be able to sit all day in a desk chair? Would you be able to use your hands to type? Can you talk on the phone to customers? Does your mental health allow you to follow instructions? Can you handle the stress of a desk job?

All of these factors are part of your RFC. Depending on your age, education, and work skills, the SSA’s medical vocational guidelines or the GRID Rules might apply to your case. If the GRID Rules apply to your claim, then they will prove you cannot work. The GRID Rules are more helpful to people over the age of 50.

CAN YOU GET MORE MONEY IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE DISABILITIES?

Every day people contact our office who are already on SSDI and SSI benefits. They ask whether they can get more money now that they have a new medical condition. For example, perhaps they are on benefits for cancer, but now they also have diabetes type II. Therefore, they think they should get more money. Unfortunately, that is not how it works. You can’t get more money for multiple disabilities.

The SSA pays the same amount of money to you regardless of how many medical conditions you have. In 2025, the maximum benefit for SSI is $967 per month for an individual. In 2025, the maximum SSDI benefit is $3,917. However, most people who win SSDI benefits will get around $1500 a month, which is the average benefit. For SSDI benefits, the amount you receive is based on your earnings from work.

You do not get more SSDI benefits when your medical condition gets worse. Likewise, you do not get more SSDI money when you develop another medical condition. Once you are on SSDI benefits, except for cost of living increases, your benefit amount remains the same.

WHAT WILL IT COST YOU IF YOU DON’T HIRE THE RIGHT LAWYER?

What will it cost you if you don’t hire a lawyer with the legal experience to win your case? If you win disability benefits, you will receive monthly for the rest of your working life or until full retirement age. For example, if you win SSD benefits at 50 years old, then you will receive benefits for the next 17 years. You may also win two of years of past due benefits. For the average 50 year old, winning SSDI benefits means getting 19 years of monthly payments.

Nineteen years is is 228 months. At $1200 a month (which is a lower than average benefit amount), that is $273,600. Additionally, you will win a higher retirement benefit after the age of 67. For example, let’s say that you will receive $300 more a month until you are 90 years old. That is over $82,000.

It costs 25% of your back benefit OR $9200 from your back benefit to pay your attorney. You pay whatever amount is less and only if you win. Let’s pretend you pay the maximum fee of $9200. If you win your case, then your attorney has just won you $$356,400, plus early Medicare benefits. You attorney will be paid $9200 from that award of benefits.

All attorneys charge the same amount. So, you can go it alone and not hire an attorney, but chances are you will lose. Or, you can hire an attorney with over 30 years of experience and win $349,200. The choice is yours. But, we hope you can see that the cost of a lawyer with 30 years of experience is “worth it.”

HOW WILL YOU PAY THE ATTORNEY FEE?

We will use our legal skills to help you through the Social Security appeal process. It is our goal to win your case and prove you have multiple disabilities on SSA’s listing. But, it also our goal to make the appeal process easier for you.

We offer a free review of your case. If you call, then there is no pressure to become our client. Even if we don’t accept your case, we will still try to help you.

It also doesn’t cost you any upfront money to hire us. Why? Because we work for free until we win your case. This means you only pay us an attorney fee if we win your case. If we win, then the SSA pays us out of your back benefits. Learn about past due SSD benefits. If you do not win, then you do not pay an attorney fee.

How much is the attorney fee? The attorney fee is 25% of your back benefit with a cap of $9200. You will pay whatever amount is less. This is best understood through an example. If your back benefit is $10,000, then your attorney fee would be $2500. Which is 25% of the past due benefits.

However, if your back benefit is $100,000, you would not pay 25% or $25,000 in attorney fees. Instead, you would pay the amount of the fee cap. Therefore, if you win your case, then the attorney fee is $9200.

Finally, you only owe an attorney fee if we win your case. Find out what it will cost to hire an SSD attorney.

HIRE THE SSD LAW FIRM WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE

It isn’t easy to get Social Security benefits for multiple disabilities. The application process can be frustrating for most people. But, hiring an attorney to help you throughout the process can ease the frustration. It is our belief that when you have our law firm handling your Social Security case, the SSA follows their procedures.

Additionally, when you have an attorney with legal experience, they have access to Social Security’s decisions throughout the process. They can also submit medical evidence that may be missing from your case.

There is evidence that hiring an attorney with the proper experience triples your chances of winning your SSD benefits. It is also smart to hire an attorney to help you at your hearing. After all, you are the star witness at your hearing. If you hire an attorney with experience, then they can prepare you to testify in court. Learn how to prepare for your SSA hearing.

HIRE OUR LAW FIRM TO WIN SSD BENEFITS

When choosing a Social Security disability attorney or SSD law firm, ask how many cases the law firm has won. Also, you can ask your lawyer if they have experience helping people with multiple disabilities. If they don’t have decades of experience, then don’t hire them.

If you need help winning your SSD benefits, then you have found the right law firm. For example, Dianna Cannon has been helping clients win SSD benefits for over thirty years. Additionally, Brett Bunkall and Andria Summers have also won thousands of SSDI and SSI cases.

Together, we have won over 20,000 SSDI and SSI cases for our clients. Our legal experts can help you file for SSD benefits using the SSA’s website. Also, when filing for SSD benefits, we need you to give us your medical information. For example, we will need the name, address and phone number of your doctors.

If you are at the point where need an appeal, then we can help you do that too. There are also many forms you will need to fill out. If you have questions about these forms, then we will answer them. You can learn about SSA’s appeal forms.

We want to help you win SSD benefits for your multiple disabilities. If you need benefits because you cannot work, then you need an attorney to help you prove your case. Contact us today to win your Social Security disability benefits. Put our legal experience to work for you.