Blue Book

The Blue Book is the information name for the officially entitled Disability Evaluation under Social Security. The Blue Book is a listing of the conditions and corresponding criteria used to determine if a claimant is disabled according to the SSA. The Blue Book was last published in 2008. If you want to review the current addition you can reference it online at http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook.

The Blue Book has both an adult and child edition. Within the listing there is general information, evidentiary requirements, and an overview of its listing of impairments. The listing is difficult for a general lay person to read and is better understood by medical professionals, but it does provide information about how a claimant qualifies as "totally disabled" under the strict definitions provided by the SSA.

Claimants are not immediately approved for benefits if they have a condition which "meets or exceeds a listing." They must also meet the nonmedical requirements for SSDI. For instance, they must have sufficient work credits to be considered insured, they cannot be working and performing substantial gainful activity, and their condition must be expected to last at least 12 continuous months.