A: The Social Security issues a “Listing of Impairments” that sets the criteria for determining whether an individual is disabled. It is very difficult to meet or equal Social Security’s Listing requirements. There are Listings for both physical and mental conditions. If you satisfy the requirements in a Listing you are found to “meet” the Listing.
If you have more than one severe condition, the conditions should be combined in determining whether the symptoms are severe enough to “equal” a Listing. For example, if the claimant suffers from both mental and physical impairments, the physical and mental limitations can be combined to equal a Listing.
