Work History and Social Security Contributions

To qualify for SSD benefits, you must have a sufficient work history. Specifically, you need to have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a certain number of years. The exact number of years required depends on your age when you became disabled. Generally:

• For younger workers: If you are under 31, you may qualify with as few as 1.5 years of work in the last 3 years before your disability.
• For older workers: The SSA requires more work years as you age. Typically, people aged 31 and older will need at least 5 years of work in the last 10 years before becoming disabled.

The SSA uses credits to measure your work history. You can earn up to four credits per year, with a certain amount of earnings required to get one credit. Typically, you need 20-40 credits depending on your age.

Medical Condition and Disability

Your condition must be severe enough to prevent you from working. The SSA requires that you prove your disability is not only severe but also that it prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). To meet this requirement:

• Your condition must be listed in the SSA's Listing of Impairments (also known as the Blue Book). If your condition is not listed, you must prove it is equivalent in severity to one that is.
• You must also show that your disability has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months or result in death.

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Limit

You cannot earn above a certain income level if you wish to qualify for SSD benefits. The SSA considers whether you are engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). If you are working and earning above a certain monthly income threshold, you will not be considered disabled for SSD purposes.

In 2025, the SGA limit is $1,470 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,460 for blind individuals. If you earn more than these amounts, the SSA will typically consider that you are able to work and thus may deny your application.

Severity of Disability

Your disability must be serious enough to limit your ability to perform basic work functions. The SSA evaluates how your condition affects your ability to do work tasks such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, and other basic job functions. A severe condition is one that substantially limits your ability to perform these tasks.

Work History Before Disability

The SSA also examines whether you can still perform your previous work. If your disability prevents you from doing the work you did in the past, the SSA will proceed to step 5, where they will determine if you can perform other types of work.

Age, Education, and Work Experience

The SSA takes your age, education, and work experience into account. If you are unable to do your past job, they will assess whether you can transition to another type of work. Your ability to perform other types of work will depend on your age, education level, and work history.