How Do I Know If My Disability Is Severe Enough for SSD Eligibility?
Suffering a serious injury or being diagnosed with a serious illness that is going to prevent you from working for a long time — or potentially forever — can be an extremely frightening position to be in. You may not know how you will be able to pay for the high costs of medical care that will soon be adding up, and you may not be sure about how you will cover the costs of your mortgage or rent and other necessities. Could you be eligible for Social Security disability?
In order to be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, both of which are administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), your condition must meet a very specific definition of “disability” that requires a particular level of severity. Is your injury or medical condition disabling and severe enough to qualify for benefits? Our SSD eligibility lawyer can explain in more detail.
What Counts as a Disability for Social Security Disability Benefits?
In order to be eligible for benefits, you must meet both non-medical requirements and the SSA’s medical requirement. SSDI and SSI have very different non-medical requirements, but they have the same (or overlapping) medical requirement. Since the question we are addressing here is whether a disability is severe enough for benefits, we are discussing only the medical requirement:
First, your medical condition must be expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in your death. Second, your medical condition must also be severe enough that it prevents you from engaging in “substantial gainful activity” (SGA). How is SGA measured, and how can you compare your situation to the measurement system that the SSA uses?
What Constitutes Substantial Gainful Activity?
What actually constitutes “substantial gainful activity” such that you can determine if your condition is severe enough to qualify for Social Security disability? It is based on an amount of monthly income.
Essentially, you must be able to show that you are unable to perform enough work that you would earn over the amount that is considered to be SGA. The amount is adjusted annually, and for 2025 it is $1,690 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,830 per month for blind individuals.
If you have any questions or you are unsure about whether your medical conditions prevent you from engaging in SGA, it is important to seek advice from an attorney who regularly handles Social Security disability claims.
Contact a National SSD Eligibility Attorney for Help Obtaining Disability Benefits
Are you unsure about whether your current injury or medical condition is likely to make you eligible for disability benefits? The best way to determine your likely eligibility is to discuss the details of your case with an experienced social security disability lawyer at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz. We can speak with you today to learn more about your medical record and non-medical requirements, and we can begin working with you on your initial SSD application or an appeal if you have been denied benefits. Contact our firm to learn more about how we can assist you.
Sources:
ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html
ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html
