How Disabled Do You Have To Be To Collect Social Security Disability or SSI?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income disability (SSI) are considered total disability programs.

Having said that, it does not mean an individual can have no earnings to collect disability from one of the Social Security administration's disability programs. The Social Security definition of disability states that a condition is disabling if it is a medically determinable physical impairment or mental impairment that has prevented an individual from performing substantial gainful activity (SGA) for twelve continuous months; is expected to prevent an individual from performing SGA for twelve continuous months; or is expected to result in death.

So what is substantial gainful activity and how does it affect an individual’s ability to collect disability? SGA is a monthly earnings amount that Social Security considers self-supporting and if an individual is earning over the SGA monthly amount their disability claim will be denied prior to being sent for a medical decision. Each year, Social Security determines what the monthly SGA amount will be, so if an individual is planning on filing for disability and they are working they should check with Social Security to determine if their earnings are too high.

Social Security differentiates their disability program from other disability programs such as VA disability, short term, or even long term disability in that it does not consider partial disability (as in VA disability) or being disabled from a certain job (as in long or short disability) as being disabled for Social Security purposes.

Individuals who apply for disability with Social Security must go through a five-step sequential evaluation process that determines:

A) If an individual is performing SGA level work activity;

B) If they have a medically determinable mental or medical condition;

C) What the severity of their condition is;

D) If this condition prevents the individual from working at any of their relevant past work or doing any other type of work as it is performed in the general economy considering the limitations of their disabling condition or conditions. Note: for past work to be considered by social security to be "relevant" and possibly a job that a person can return to, it must have been done sometime in the last 15 years for three months or longer while earning at least the SGA earnings amount.

Essentially, to be considered disabled by the social security administration, an individual must have a condition that is severe enough that they cannot work for twelve months or longer (at one of their former jobs, or doing any kind of other work that their skills and education might suit them for) while earning at least the SGA earnings amount.

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Individual Questions and Answers

How long does it take to get an answer on a Social Security Reconsideration Appeal?

Steps for Filing A Disability Claim Under SSI or SSD

How Long Will it Take To Get a Decision Letter from Social Security Disability?

How Long Are You Given To Appeal Your Social Security Disability Denial?

What If You Did Not Work Long Enough To Qualify For Disability?

How will an attorney help me win disability benefits?

When You Apply For Disability Do You Need To write Down Everything That Is Wrong With You?

Do You have A Chance Of Losing Disability Benefits If Your Case Gets Reviewed?

When are you allowed to get a Disability Lawyer?

Why is the Social Security Disability Decision Process So Slow

Applying for disability benefits in Washington

If I Apply For Disability And Go Back To Work, Do I Need To Report This?

Can You Receive Social Security Disability Or SSI Benefits At the Same Time As VA or Veterans’ Benefits?

What is a Social Security Disability Denial based on?

Is There Social Security Disability For Children?

How Many Work Credits Do You Need To Have For SSI?

What is the process to file a Social Security Disability appeal?

How Does Social Security Disability Make Its Decision?

Social Security Disability And Trial Work Months

What are the chances of winning disability benefits through an appeal?

The Request for a Disability Hearing with Social Security

What Does Social Security Disability and SSI Include As Your Past Work?

What Income Will Affect Your Disability Benefits?

To qualify for Social Security disability or SSI, how severe must a condition be?

Do you need a Lawyer at the Administrative Law Judge Disability Hearing?

Should I apply for social Security disability or SSI disability ?

Thrombosis and Filing for Disability

Does Social Security disability pay for medicine prescriptions ?

Filing an Application for Disability Benefits under SSD or SSI

Social security disability SSDI Benefits and your ability to work

Disability and Medicare- how does it work

Why was I denied social security disability?

What determines how long I can keep my Disability Benefits under SSD or SSI?

How is SSI different from Social Security Disability?

Why Will You be Sent to a Social Security Doctor?

What is the state disability agency (DDS, Disability Determination Services)?

Does The Social Security Disability Reconsideration Have A Time Limit?

When will a disability lawyer decide to take your case?

Social Security Disability Doctor, Supportive Statements

Will I Get SSI or SSD Disability With a Ruptured Disc?

What Are the Chances of Winning an SSA Disability Appeal?

Can you be denied for SSDI or SSI disability if social security cannot find your medical records?

Are SSD and SSI disability cases decided differently or in the same way?

Can I Receive Disability Benefits with Back problems?

What does SSA consider a severe impairment for Social Security Disability or SSI Disability Benefits?

If you receive a Social Security Disability Denial quickly does that mean the case is weak?

Will you be notified if you receive an Approval for Social Security Disability or SSI

How to apply for social security disability benefits for children

To Win Benefits, You may have to Appeal a Social Security Disability Denial or SSI denial

Social Security Disability Health Coverage

What is the Process to be Approved for SSD or SSI Disability Benefits?

If I Am Determined Disabled, How Far Back Will Social Security Pay Benefits?

What kind of cases win disability benefits ?

Is multiple sclerosis considered a disability by Social Security?

Can a child receive disability benefits for asthma?

Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI with Bipolar Disorder

If I Get Approved For Disability And Later Get Another condition, Can My Benefits Be Increased And Go Up?

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Kentucky

Syncope and Filing for Disability

Qualifying for Disability - What is Social Security Looking for?

SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials