Work History Requirements

To qualify for SSDI, you must have:

• Worked in jobs covered by Social Security. This means you paid Social Security taxes through your employment.
• Earned enough work credits. Most people need at least 40 credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years before the disability began. Younger applicants may qualify with fewer credits depending on their age.

Medical Disability Requirements

You must also meet the SSA’s definition of disability:

• Your condition must be severe enough to significantly limit your ability to perform basic work-related tasks.
• Your disability must last, or be expected to last, at least 12 months or result in death.
• Your condition must prevent you from doing both your past work and any other substantial work.

SSA's Five-Step Disability Evaluation Process

To determine eligibility, the SSA follows this five-step process:

1. Are you working? If you are earning more than the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit, you may not qualify.
2. Is your condition severe? It must interfere with basic work functions.
3. Is your condition listed in the SSA Blue Book? If it is, and you meet the listed criteria, you may qualify automatically.
4. Can you perform your past work? If not, the SSA proceeds to the next step.
5. Can you do any other work? SSA considers your age, education, and job skills to determine if you can adjust to other work.

Non-Medical Requirements

In addition to the above, you must also:

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• Not be engaged in significant work activity.
• Provide all required documentation, such as medical records and employment history.