The SSA's Definition of Disability

According to the SSA, you are considered disabled if:

• You are unable to perform "substantial gainful activity" (SGA): This means you cannot work and earn above a certain income threshold. For 2025, the limit is $1,470 per month (for non-blind individuals). If you are earning above this amount, the SSA will typically consider you able to work.
• Your condition is severe enough to interfere with basic work functions: Your condition must prevent you from doing work-related activities like sitting, standing, walking, lifting, or performing other job tasks for at least 12 months or result in death.

So, while you don’t need to be "completely" disabled, your impairment must be serious enough that it prevents you from performing substantial work and it must last for a prolonged period.

SSA’s Five-Step Evaluation Process

The SSA uses a five-step process to determine if you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. Here's how the process works:

• Step 1: Are You Working? If you are currently working and earning above the substantial gainful activity (SGA) threshold, the SSA will find that you are not disabled.
• Step 2: Is Your Condition Severe? The SSA evaluates whether your medical condition is severe enough to interfere with basic work functions. If your condition doesn’t significantly limit your ability to perform work tasks, you will not qualify.
• Step 3: Does Your Condition Meet or Equal a Listed Impairment? The SSA has a Listing of Impairments, which is a list of medical conditions that automatically qualify for disability benefits. If your condition is listed, you might qualify, but it doesn’t have to be a listed impairment. If it’s not listed, you can still qualify if it is just as severe.
• Step 4: Can You Do Your Past Work? The SSA will assess if you can still perform your previous job. If you cannot, they move on to the next step.
• Step 5: Can You Do Other Work? The final step is to determine if there is any other type of work you can perform, given your age, education, work experience, and residual functional capacity (RFC). If you can’t do any other work, you may qualify for SSD benefits.

What Counts as "Disabling"?

Your disability does not have to be total, but it must be severe enough to significantly impact your ability to earn a living. The SSA considers both physical and mental disabilities when evaluating claims. Conditions that might qualify for benefits include:

• Physical Disabilities: Conditions like arthritis, chronic back pain, heart disease, and neurological disorders can prevent you from working.
• Mental Disabilities: Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions can also qualify if they severely impact your ability to perform work functions.

Partial Disabilities and SSD

If your condition doesn’t leave you "completely disabled" but still limits your ability to work, you may still be eligible for SSD benefits if your work capacity is significantly impaired. For example:

• If you have reduced strength, stamina, or mental clarity due to a medical condition, you may not be able to perform the tasks of your previous job.
• Chronic pain or fatigue, even if you can perform some activities, may prevent you from completing the full workload or being productive enough to maintain steady employment.

In other words, the SSA doesn’t require you to be totally disabled, but your ability to work must be so compromised that you cannot maintain full-time, consistent employment.

Medical Evidence Is Key

To qualify for Social Security Disability, you will need to provide medical evidence that shows the severity of your condition. This may include:

• Doctor’s notes and detailed reports.
• Medical test results, such as MRI scans or lab reports.
• Treatment records, including surgeries, medications, and physical therapy.
• Statements from specialists or therapists who have treated you.

The more detailed and comprehensive your medical evidence is, the better your chances of being approved for benefits, even if your condition isn’t considered “completely” disabling.

Can I Work While on Disability?

While you don’t need to be completely disabled to qualify, you must be unable to work at a level that is considered “substantial gainful activity.” The SSA does allow for a trial work period (TWP), where you can work and earn income without immediately losing your benefits. However, once you exceed certain income thresholds or work for extended periods, the SSA will re-evaluate your eligibility.

For 2025, the TWP allows you to earn up to $1,950 per month (or more, depending on inflation) without it impacting your SSD benefits, as long as the work is part of your trial period.