I got my social security disability on the initial try. A few years ago, they made people jump through the appeals and THEN get the benefits. These days, more people are getting it at the initial level. I read this somewhere when I applied 3 years ago.

There is no hard, fast answer.

Social security does NOT decide if you will get benefits. Each state has a STATE agency that handles this. In Texas, it is the Texas Rehabilitation Commission. Your state will have a counter part agency to make the decision.

Despite the social security website saying that they prefer that your doctor make the evaluation that you are disabled enough to be prevented from working at least one year is BS. After you and your doctor fill out the paperwork (and apply only if you have a doctor willing to sign off that you are unable to work and not all doctors will do that), the state agency sill send you to THEIR doctor for each of the problems that you list.

I did a lot of research on disability since I am currently being re-evaluated.

Mental cases by themselves are the hardest to get benefits. The reason is that there is no set standards like with being a diabetic. But the more significant problems you have, the more chance you will get disability. But they will send you to their shrink if you claim a mental problem. He is NOT impartial as he is supposed to be. Same for a bad back or other ailments. Social security will send you to a back specialist if you list you have a bad back.

Then there is a complicated set of guidelines that I have seen on the internet that supposedly the examiner's use. But I doubt they use them. Few could follow them. They are too complicated.

They also consider your age, work history, are you trainable (I>E> you were a laborer and could you do a desk job) and other factors.

But in the end, it really IS the luck of the draw. Like the poster that said being obese got benefits. That is true and someone paralyzied from the neck down may have to appeal.

There is no logic. Just have a sympathtic doctor, and get an atttorney that specializes in social security. A few will take it at the initial level but most want to wait until you get first turned down. Having a lawyer going in probably was why I got it. They knew that the attorney was there for the entire ride so poney up.

Hope that helps.