Writing federal court briefs is hard work. It takes a lot of time and I do not know if I am going to win (and collect fees). The upside though is that I learn a lot and by having to write about it, I understand and learn the law much better. This is true of a case I am currently working on in which my client has “intellectual disability” (mental retardation).
Social Security has what they call “Listings” – a list of impairments which if you meet one of them, you are considered disabled. One of them is 12.05, Intellectual Disability. Listing 12.05 provides:
12.05 Intellectual disability: intellectual disability refers to significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning with deficits in adaptive functioning initially manifested during the developmental period; i.e., the evidence demonstrates or supports onset of the impairment before age 22.
The required level of severity for this disorder is met when the requirements in A, B, C, or D are satisfied.
A. Mental incapacity evidenced by dependence upon others for personal needs (e.g., toileting, eating, dressing, or bathing) and inability to follow directions, such that the use of standardized measures of intellectual functioning is precluded;
OR
B. A valid verbal, performance, or full scale IQ of 59 or less;
OR
C. A valid verbal, performance, or full scale IQ of 60 through 70 and a physical or other mental impairment imposing an additional and significant work-related limitation of function;
OR
D. A valid verbal, performance, or full scale IQ of 60 through 70, resulting in at least two of the following:
1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living; or
2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or
3. Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; or
4. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration.
In order to win disability with the listing, a claimant has to meet the criteria contained in the introductory paragraph and one of the criteria set forth in parts A through D. I had always thought that IQ testing or a diagnosis was required prior to the age of 22 to meet the requirement set forth in the introductory paragraph. It turns out that I was wrong, and that a diagnosis of intellectual disability is not required to have been made prior to the age of 22. Instead, the submission of other evidence of early onset of intellectual disability is acceptable.
