To qualify for benefits under the Social Security Administration (SSA) guidelines, your impairment must be severe enough to prevent you from performing and maintaining substantial gainful employment. The SSA sets a minimum income threshold each year; if your earnings exceed this limit, you won’t be eligible for benefits. Additionally, your impairment must meet one of the following conditions:
- It must be expected to last at least one year,
- It must have already lasted for at least one year, or
- It is likely to result in death.
Other criteria are also used to determine whether you qualify for disability.
Applicants must also have sufficient work history to be eligible for Social Security benefits. In most cases, this means working a certain number of years, with age being another factor. You must have worked in recent years to qualify.
Social Security Disability benefits are earned through the taxes you pay while working. However, some applicants may not need to meet the work requirements. Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a needs-based program, is available to individuals with low income and limited resources who don’t qualify for SSDI.
