SSR 05-02

According to Social Security Ruling 96-3p, impairment is considered severe if it “significantly limits an individual’s physical or mental abilities to do basic work activities.” Under the same Guidelines, “an impairment that is ‘not severe’ might be a slight abnormality (or a combination of slight abnormalities) that has no more than a minimal effect on the ability to do basic work activities.” For this reason it is very important that each and every physical or mental impairment be developed in the medical evidence. This can greatly increase the possibility of successfully obtaining social security disability benefits.