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The definition of disability in the Social Security law is a strict one. To be eligible for benefits, a person must be unable to do any kind of substantial gainful work because of a physical or mental impairment (or a combination of impairments), which is expected either:

  • to last at least 12 months, or

  • to end in death

If, because of a medical condition, a person cannot do the work that they performed in the past, then age, education, and past work experience must be considered in determining whether the person can do other work. If the evidence shows that the person can do other work, even if it involves different skills or pays less than their previous work, they cannot be considered disabled for Social Security purposes.

You should be familiar with the process used to determine if you are disabled. It's a step-by-step process involving five questions. They are:

  1. Are you working?  In 2023, if you have monthly earnings averaging $1,470 or more ($2,460 if you're blind), then you would be considered to be engaging in substantial gainful activity and would probably not meet initial eligibility requirements for SSI disability benefits.
  2. Is your condition severe? Your impairments must interfere with basic work-related activities for your claim to be considered.
  3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling impairments? A list of impairments for each of the major body systems is maintained by Social Security that defines impairments that are so severe they automatically mean you are disabled. If your condition is not on the list, they have to decide if it is of equal severity to an impairment on the list.
  4. Can you do the work you did previously? If your condition is severe, but not at the same or equal severity as an impairment on the list, then they must determine if it interferes with your ability to do the work you did in the last 15 years. If it does not, your claim will be denied. If it does, your claim will be considered further.
  5. Can you do any other type of work? If you cannot do the work you did in the last 15 years, they then look to see if you can do any other type of work. They consider your age, education, past work experience, and transferable skills, and review the job demands of occupations as determined by the Department of  Labor. If you cannot do any other kind of work, your claim will be approved. If you can, your claim will be denied.

You may obtain a copy of Disability Evaluation Under Social Security ("The Blue Book") which contains the medical criteria that SSA uses to determine disability. It is intended primarily for physicians and other health professionals.

To apply for Disability benefits, you can find the most convenient Social Security office at https://www.ssa.gov/locator/

Or, you can find more info and apply online for Disability benefits.