How does the Social Security Administration determine whether a Claimant is disabled?
Federal law defines disability as inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. Extensive federal statutes and regulations further set out how the government determines whether or not an individual meets this definition. The test is not met simply because an individual has a medical problem and/or cannot find a job.