What Medical Conditions Qualify for Social Security Disability in 2025?

If you’re wondering whether your health condition makes you eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you're not alone. This is one of the most common questions we get at Crossroads Disability.

The good news is: Social Security doesn’t just look at your diagnosis — they look at how your condition prevents you from working full time.

Let’s break down the official list of qualifying conditions, explain how the SSA evaluates them, and give you tips to improve your odds of approval.

What Is the Social Security “Blue Book”?

The SSA’s Blue Book is an official list of medical conditions that can qualify you for disability benefits. It includes impairment listings for both physical and mental conditions. These listings describe how severe your condition must be to automatically qualify.

Even if your condition isn’t listed, you may still qualify — more on that later.

Common Conditions That Qualify for SSDI

Here are examples of medical conditions that commonly lead to SSDI approval in 2025:

Physical Conditions

Back and spine disorders (degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis)
Arthritis and other joint disorders
Heart disease (congestive heart failure, arrhythmias)
Chronic respiratory disorders (COPD, asthma, emphysema)
Cancer (lung, breast, colon, leukemia, lymphoma, etc.)
Diabetes complications (neuropathy, kidney failure, vision problems)
Epilepsy or seizure disorders
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (with strong medical evidence)
Kidney and liver disease

Mental Health Conditions

Depression (major depressive disorder)
Bipolar disorder
Anxiety disorders (including PTSD and panic disorder)
Schizophrenia
Autism spectrum disorder
Intellectual disability
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) with lasting effects

Many people qualify due to a combination of conditions — not just one.

How the SSA Decides If You Qualify

To be approved, your condition must:

Be “severe” — it must significantly limit your ability to do basic work-related activities.
Last (or be expected to last) 12 months or more, or result in death.
Prevent you from doing past work or adjusting to new work.

SSA uses a 5-step evaluation process to make this determination, and medical records are key.

What If Your Condition Isn’t on the List?

You can still qualify if:

You provide medical evidence showing your condition is as severe as one that is listed.
Your combined health problems create a disabling effect even if each alone might not qualify.

This is called “meeting or equaling a listing,” and it’s where having a lawyer can really help.

Tips to Improve Your Odds of Approval

Get detailed documentation from all your doctors.
Ask for Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) forms — these explain how your condition limits your ability to function at work.
Keep a symptom diary if your condition fluctuates.
Be clear and specific on how your condition affects your daily life and ability to work.

How a Disability Lawyer Helps You Win

At Crossroads Disability, we help clients:

Identify qualifying conditions
Collect and submit the strongest medical evidence
Handle all communication with the SSA
Appeal denials and represent clients at hearings

We only get paid if you win, and your consultation is free.

📞 Not Sure If You Qualify? Let’s Talk.

Even if you're unsure whether your condition qualifies, we can help you find out — at no cost to you. At Crossroads Disability, we’ve helped hundreds of people with both physical and mental health conditions get the benefits they deserve.