10 types of dissabilities

1. Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue

This group made up 29.7% of all people receiving Social Security benefits.

The musculoskeletal system includes bones, ligaments, cartilage, and other connective
tissues. This system connects your bones and helps you maintain movements. No one can
adequately sit, walk, or stand without the skeletal system.

Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue disorders include:

 Arthritis
 Fibromyalgia
 Spine disorders
 Scoliosis
 Ruptured discs
 Carpal tunnel syndrome
 Degenerative disc disease

Musculoskeletal system disorders can make it near-impossible to work. Many people are on
SSDI for these conditions because of how much they impact everyday life.

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2. Mood Disorders
Mood disorders made up 12.9% of those receiving disability benefits. Mood disorders can
include:

 Bipolar disorder
 Major depressive disorder
 Cyclothymic disorder
  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
 Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
 Depression related to mental illness
 Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Mood disorders can distort someone’s mood or emotions. They might feel irritability,
extreme sadness, or emptiness. Anxiety and depression can significantly impact someone’s
ability to work.

3. Nervous System and Sense Organs

The nervous system helps all the body parts communicate. It’s also responsible for decision-
making.

The nervous system includes the:

 Brain
 Spinal cord
 Sensory organs
 Nerves

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the following are examples of nervous system
disorders:

 Infections like meningitis and polio

 Functional disorders like epilepsy and neuralgia
 Degenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson disease
 Structural disorders like Bell’s palsy and brain or spinal cord injuries

Nervous system and sense organ disorders make up 9.7% of those receiving disability
benefits.

4. Intellectual Disabilities
According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disorders
(AAIDD), an intellectual disability involves limitations in:

 Learning, reasoning, and problem-solving

 Adaptive behavior

Intellectual disabilities can make it challenging to learn, retain information, and

communicate.

Types of intellectual disabilities include:

 Fragile X syndrome
 Developmental delays
 Down syndrome
 Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
  Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)

Intellectual disabilities often start before the age of 18. They make up 8.6% of those on
disability benefits.

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5. Circulatory System
The circulatory system brings nutrients, oxygen, and hormones to the body’s cells. It also
takes waste products out of the body.

The circulatory system, which is also known as the cardiovascular system, includes:

 Arteries that carry blood away from the heart

 Veins that carry blood back to the heart.

Common diseases that affect the circulatory system include:

 Heart attack
 Atherosclerosis
 Arrhythmia and dysrhythmia
 Heart failure
 High cholesterol or high blood pressure
 Stroke
 Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Circulatory system diseases disrupt this process and make up 7% of those on disability.

6. Schizophrenic and Other Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic disorders make up 4.8% of those on disability benefits can include symptoms like:

 Hallucinations
 Delusions
 Catatonic behavior
 Disorganized speech

Symptoms can make it difficult to be social, complete activities, and engage in regular work.
Delusional disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder are typical examples of
psychotic disorders.

7. Other Mental Disorders

“Other mental disorders” make up 4% of those on disability. These disorders can include
those not already listed.

8. Injuries
Physical injuries can often lead to disabilities. SSA data shows that 3.5% of people became
disabled because of injuries.

A sudden injury can change someone’s life forever. They might be unable to work as they
could before — or unable to work at all. A total disability from injuries can lead someone to
apply for SSDI.

9. Organic Mental Disorders

Another name for organic mental disorders is “chronic organic brain syndromes.” These
disorders are brain afflictions that cause severe psychological or behavioral issues. They
affect 3.3% of those on SSDI.

The problems could be temporary or lifelong. They do not include psychiatric disorders.
Diseases, injuries, or defects in the body might cause organic mental disorders. Symptoms
include brain function loss, confusion, and memory loss.

Examples of organic mental disorders include:

 Dementia
 Amnesia
 Alzheimer’s disease
 Delirium

10. Neoplasms
Finally, the 10th top disability comes from neoplasms. A neoplasm is an abnormal growth
that affects 2.8% of those on disability benefits. It forms a tumor or lump in the body.

Cells that divide more quickly than usual can cause a neoplasm. Neoplasms can be benign,
pre-cancerous, or cancerous. If the tumor grows uncontrollably, it can spread to other body
parts. As it spreads, it can affect organs and become life-threatening.

The main types of neoplasms include:

 Fibromas
 Adenomas
 Lipomas
 Hemangiomas