Will SSD Eligibility Change in 2026?
Were you recently injured in an accident? Or have you been seeing health care providers to seek a diagnosis for disabling medical symptoms that you are experiencing? In either circumstance — whether your disability has arisen out of an injury or a disease — you may be eligible to obtain disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA administers two types of disability benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (or SSDI, also known more simply as SSD), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
SSDI or SSD benefits can be paid to a person who meets the medical requirements and has a sufficient work record — these benefits are not based at all on having a limited income or resources. Differently, SSI benefits can be paid to a person who also meets the medical requirements but has limited resources. If you are planning to seek advice about your SSD eligibility, you may be wondering if anything you learn now is likely to change in 2026. Generally speaking, eligibility requirements are very likely to remain the same, but there will be certain cost-of-living adjustments to note.
Eligibility for SSD Benefits
In order to be eligible for SSD benefits, you must meet a medical and a non-medical requirement.
The medical requirement will require you to prove, based on medical evidence, that you have a condition that is expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in your death, and it must also be severe enough that it prevents you from earning enough money through work to be considered “substantial gainful activity,” or SGA.
The non-medical requirement for SSD benefits will require you to show that you have enough work credits to be eligible and that you have worked recently enough to qualify. In general, a person needs 20 work credits to be eligible. You can earn up to 4 work credits per year, and you must have earned credits during the last decade. For younger workers who have not yet had time to earn 20 work credits, there are lowered work credit requirements.
SGA Changes for 2026
Neither the substance of the medical requirement or non-medical requirement is likely to have any changes in 2026. However, the cost-of-living adjustments will mean that the amount considered to be substantial gainful activity, or SGA, will increase.
For non-blind SSD applicants, SGA in 2025 is $1,620 per month. That amount will increase to $1,690 per month in 2026. For blind SSD applicants, SGA in 2025 is $2,700 per month, and that amount will increase to $2,830 per month in 2026.
Contact a National SSD Eligibility Lawyer Today for Help with Your Application
If you were recently disabled due to an accident or conditions related to a medical diagnosis, you should not delay in determining your SSDI eligibility and beginning the application process. It will take a minimum of five months from the date your disability began until you can begin receiving payments (in the sixth month), so you do not want to wait to apply for benefits. The SSA can also experience delays, so it is important to begin working with one of the experienced national SSD eligibility attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz as soon as possible. Contact us today to have your SSDI questions answered and to begin the application process for disability benefits.
Sources:
ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html
ssa.gov/news/en/cola/factsheets/2026.html
