What you have to prove
Meet listing: (A) for 1 year after implantation, automatically qualify; OR (B) after that first year, a word recognition score of 60 percent or less using the HINT test.
Medical evidence SSA expects
Operative records for the implant, post-implant audiology and speech testing, and HINT test results.
Common misconceptions
The automatic 1-year qualification is generous. After year 1, most implant recipients score above 60 percent on HINT and lose eligibility.
Didn't meet the listing? You can still qualify via a Medical-Vocational
Allowance — SSA's determination that your residual functional capacity, combined with
your age, education, and work history, leaves no jobs you can do. See our
appeals guide for what to do after an initial denial.