Step 2: What medical conditions can qualify me for disability? Disability Lawyers Proving a Disability Claim under the Five Step Sequential Evaluation

Step 2:  Do you have a severe medical problem that affects your ability to work?

Once it has been determined that an individual is not working at Step 1, SSA will proceed to Step 2.  This step asks whether a person has a severe impairment.  Typically, this is a fairly easy requirement to meet since an impairment is considered severe if it has more than a minimal effect on a person’s physical and/or mental abilities to perform work activities.  Additionally, this impairment must have lasted or be expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months (unless expected to result in death).  Therefore, it is very important for an individual attempting to receive Social Security benefits to receive continuing medical care for his or her impairments.