Impairment refers to the physical, mental, organic, or functional damage that may occur at birth or result from disease or accident. One or more functional impairments may interfere with a person's faculties such as speech, reasoning, coordination or mobility.

Impairment is considered permanent if it is unlikely to improve and is likely to continue through the recipient's lifetime. “Permanence” does not mean everlasting. New drugs and other advances in medical treatment always are a potential for recovery. Vocational rehabilitation or recovery from the impairment is always a possibility.

Considered permanent are conditions not likely to respond to any known therapy; likely to remain static or become worse without therapy; for which treatment is unavailable or inadvisable; and for which the individual refuses treatment.

The following types of disability are frequently “permanent” according to the above definition of permanence, and any individual with one or more of them may be eligible for AABD (Disabled) if the extent of his disability is such that he can be considered “totally disabled.”

1. a. 

   Paralysis (paraplegia, hemiplegia)

2. b. 

   Heart disease

3. c. 

   Amputation or loss of use of two or more extremities

4. d. 

   Severe arthritis

5. e. 

   Chronic asthma

6. f. 

   Bronchiectasis

7. g. 

   Tuberculosis

8. h. 

   Cancer

9. i. 

   Loss of vision which is disabling, but not such as to qualify the person for AABD (Blind)

10. j. 

    Uncontrollable diabetes mellitus

11. k. 

    Nephritis

12. l. 

    Incontinence of urine or feces

13. m. 

    Varicose veins of long standing with edema and ulceration

14. n. 

    Cirrhosis of the liver, moderately advanced

15. o. 

    Hansen's disease

16. p. 

    Multiple sclerosis

17. q. 

    Osteomyelitis

18. r. 

    Poliomyelitis

19. s. 

    Cerebral palsy

20. t. 

    Syphilis of central nervous system (i.e., Tabes Dorsalis, etc.)

21. u. 

    Parkinson's Disease

22. v. 

    Epilepsy

23. w. 

    Psychosis of long standing

24. x. 

    Those whose mental capacity for self-direction is gone, as for instance, very low-grade feebleminded or those ex-patients of the State Hospital who are “able to adjust on a dependent level” only.

Refusal to pursue medical treatment shall disqualify the applicant for further economic assistance unless: His fears of medical treatment appear bona fide to the social worker; mental illness or mental deficiency precludes understanding of agency's requirements, or treatment is contrary to his religious beliefs.

Totality of disability refers to the extent the impairment has prevented or interfered with a person's use of his faculties, such as his senses, reasoning, or mobility. Disability is considered total if the individual cannot engage in either: A useful occupation which he is competent to perform such as regular gainful employment or homemaking or sufficient activity to meet his essential daily living needs without another person's help.

“Totality” does not mean absolutely. An individual must be totally disabled in relation to his normal activities and capabilities; his ability to carry out responsibilities of a job. The time during which he may be disabled is not a factor in determining totality.