If a serious injury or medical condition prevents you from working, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has strict technical and medical eligibility requirements.
Technical Requirements
The SSA requires you to have paid into Social Security and to have earned a certain number of work credits to qualify for disability benefits. As of 2025, you earn one work credit for every $1,810 earned in Social Security-taxed income, and you can earn up to four credits per year. The number of credits you need will depend on your age at the time of your disability application.
In addition to your work history, you must show that your disability prevents you from performing “substantial gainful activity.” It means that if you are working in some capacity and make over a certain threshold, you will not qualify.The amount is adjusted over time, but right now, the SSA considers someone who makes more than $1,620 per month (or more than $2,700 a month if they’re blind) to be performing substantial gainful activity.
Medical Requirements
If you meet the work history criteria and fall below the earning threshold, you must also meet medical requirements to qualify for Social Security Disability. To medically qualify, a claimant must not only be unable to work at their past work due to their medical condition(s), but also be unable to perform any other work, for a period of at least one year.
Why Was My Claim Denied?
Even if you meet the income and work history requirements, your application can still be denied. The SSA5 might deny your claim if they conclude there isn’t enough medical documentation or that your conditions are not sufficiently severe. They may also conclude that you can adjust to other work.
Social Security Disability claims can be complex, frustrating, and time-consuming. If you are unable to work due to your medical conditions, call Fessenden Laumer & DeAngelo PLLC to schedule a consultation today.
