Social Security Disability Requirements for Adults

If you have a disability, you’re not alone. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 70 million U.S. adults have disabilities in 2024. When a working adult’s disabling condition prevents them from returning to their job, they might be eligible for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), a program established to provide benefits to workers whose disabling conditions are severe enough to prevent them from engaging in substantial gainful activity. Qualifying for SSDI based on a disability is not automatic, however. To obtain benefits, you must meet the Social Security disability requirements for adults.

Work Credit Requirements

The Social Security disability requirements for adults include earning enough work credits. Unlike the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, SSDI is not an entitlement and instead is based on payments you make to Social Security through employment from your paychecks.

In general, workers must have earned 40 work credits, with 20 earned during the 10 years preceding the date of your application. You earn 4 work credits per year if you earn enough income. For example, in 2024, workers earn one credit for $1,730 in earnings. You would earn four credits in a year if you earned $6,920 and paid into Social Security through payroll deductions or the self-employment tax.

Younger people have different work credit requirements. If you become disabled before age 24 but after age 18, you must have earned at least six work credits within the three years before you apply. If you are between 24 to 31, you might be eligible if you have worked half the time since age 21. For example, if you are 29, you would need to have earned at least 16 work credits for four years of work by the time of your application.

How the Social Security Administration Defines Disability

Not all disabilities qualify for SSDI. The SSA doesn’t approve SSDI applications for those who are considered partially disabled. Under the SSA’s rules, a qualifying disability must meet the following Social Security disability requirements for adults:

• Your condition prevents you from returning to your former job or from working in a different one with adjustments.
• Your condition is expected to last at least 12 months or to result in death.
• Your condition prevents you from performing substantial gainful activity of any type.

Social Security Administration List of Conditions

The Social Security Administration maintains a list of impairments for adults the agency considers severe enough to qualify for SSDI. If your condition appears on this list, and you meet the work credit requirements, you should be approved as long as you submit enough evidence with your application. The SSA also has the Compassionate Allowances program that expedites applications for those who are likely to be approved and have severe conditions, including Lou Gehrig’s disease, pancreatic cancer, and acute leukemia.

If your disability doesn’t appear on the list, that doesn’t mean you can’t qualify for benefits, however. For an unlisted condition to qualify you for benefits, the SSA must determine that it is just as severe as one of the listed conditions. You’ll need to submit significant evidence with your application that shows the severity of your condition and how it impacts your ability to perform substantial gainful activity and the activities of daily life. This might include submitting medical evidence, including diagnostic information, doctors’ notes, nurses’ notes, lab tests, hospital records, and other medical evidence.

A Denial Doesn’t Mean the End

If you receive a denial letter following your initial application for SSDI, that doesn’t mean you won’t be ultimately approved. You have the right to appeal the initial determination. The SSA denies a majority of disability applications, but many people are later approved during the appeals process.

Review your denial letter carefully because it contains critical information. It will list the reasons why you were denied and give you a deadline for filing an appeal. Bring this letter with you when you consult a disability lawyer.

Talk to an Experienced SSDI Attorney

If you believe you meet the Social Security disability requirements for adults but have received a denial notice, talk to the disability lawyers at Ellis & Associates. We can review your medical evidence, application, and denial letter and help you understand your next steps. Call us today at 800-MR-ELLIS or send us a message online.