Do You Need Answers on Qualifying for Social Security Disability? Read On.
When your health takes a turn for the worse and disrupts your ability to do your job, Social Security Disability is supposed to be there for you. The monthly checks it provides are a lifeline to a steadier life as bills pile up and you and your family face an uncertain future.
But gaining Social Security Disability benefits is more than just telling the government that working is out of reach for you.
Qualifying under Social Security Disability Insurance is complicated. You’ll need to demonstrate what conditions qualify you for disability and how your symptoms impact your ability to manage the demands of daily life. You’ll need to convincingly fill out your application.
Only two out of every five initial applications have been successful in recent years.
Social Security can deny disability claims for the smallest technical reasons, even when it’s obvious that your condition should qualify for benefits.
To win disability benefits, the first step is to determine that your condition fits the definition of “disabled” under the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) guidelines.
Nash Disability Law has helped thousands of people in the Chicago area through this process over the last 40 years.
If you’re wondering how to qualify for disability in Chicago and where to even start, we’re happy to talk to you, free of charge, about your claim for disability benefits.
WE’VE HELPED MORE PEOPLE IN THE CHICAGO AREA WIN BENEFITS THAN ANY OTHER LAW FIRM.
Do I Qualify for Disability Benefits as Social Security Sees It?
Under Social Security’s rules, you’re “disabled” if you have a medical condition or injury that will keep you out of work for at least 12 months.
That doesn’t mean you’ve already had your impairment for 12 months, just that there’s little chance you can recover enough to work sooner than that.
Your impairment can be physical, mental or a combination of health problems.
In general, Social Security considers you disabled if:
- You cannot do work that you did before
- You cannot adjust to other work because of your health condition.
- You’re sure to meet the one-year requirement of being off work.
Social Security runs two disability benefits programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for people knocked out of the workforce and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for people with little recent work history and financial resources.
The non-health related requirements for disability benefits are that you must have a substantial enough work record to be eligible for SSDI, and you must have low enough financial assets—like savings, investments and property other than your primary home—to qualify for SSI.
For either one, you can’t be working too much and also qualify for disability benefits. If you make more from work each month than what Social Security calls “substantial gainful activity” or SGA, you won’t qualify for benefits.
You can find out more about how to qualify for disability in Chicago in your particular case by getting a free consultation with the skilled disability lawyers at Nash Disability Law.
Qualifying for Social Security Disability FAQs
How do I qualify for Social Security Disability benefits?
To qualify for Social Security Disability, you must have a severe health problem, you must be unable to work due to your health, and your inability to work must have lasted a year, or looks like it clearly will. You can’t simply self-report that you meet the qualifications for disability benefits. You must provide evidence from independent sources like doctors, therapists, supervisors, friends, family, and others who know your situation.
Do I Qualify for SSDI?
To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you must have an eligible impairment plus a substantial recent record of working and paying Social Security taxes. SSDI is for workers whose working years are cut short by medical conditions.
Do I Qualify for SSI?
To qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must have an eligible impairment and limited financial resources. Your savings, investments or property other than your primary residence cannot exceed strict limits. People who haven’t worked much or in a long time can qualify for SSI if their resources are low enough and their health problems are severe.
What medical conditions qualify for Social Security Disability?
Any health problem that prevents you from working can qualify for disability benefits. Social Security maintains a list of dozens of medical conditions that can qualify, but having a diagnosis on the list doesn’t guarantee you’ll be approved for benefits. And lacking an illness on the list doesn’t mean you’ll be denied. Your individual symptoms and how they interfere with the tasks you need for work determine if you qualify for benefits.
How is my impairment rated for Social Security Disability?
Social Security judges your medical condition for disability benefits using a measure called your “residual functional capacity,” or RFC. Your RFC is a rating of the basic physical and mental activities you can do even with your health problems—things like standing, walking, lifting, carrying, remembering information, and concentrating on tasks. Your disability lawyer can help you figure out what evidence you need to prove the RFC needed to win your case. This may include specific information from your doctor that is often not contained in medical records.
What age do I need to be for Social Security Disability?
Anyone of adult age can get Social Security Disability, but your age affects your chances of approval. Younger adult workers may find it harder to win benefits because Social Security applies a higher standard for the severity of your health impairments. At a young age, they may decide you could switch to less strenuous work and continue working despite your health problems. To qualify for benefits, your health limitations must make all forms of work impossible. If you’re over 50 or over 55, Social Security could conclude you’re unlikely to switch to new kinds of work, so they’ll still award benefits that they might not to a younger person.
Can children qualify for Social Security Disability benefits?
Families of children 18 or under with disabilities can seek financial assistance from SSI for children. Your child’s impairments must leave them unable to function the same way as other children their age. Your family must meet the financial requirements for SSI, which means you have extremely limited financial resources. There is also a form of SSDI benefits for adult children of people with qualifying Social Security records. To qualify, the individual must be unable to work because of disabilities that started before age 22.
Can I qualify for Social Security Disability if I’m working?
You can only work a small amount and still qualify for Social Security Disability. The goal of disability benefits is helping people who can’t work. Work that amounts to what Social Security calls “substantial gainful activity (SGA)” will disqualify you from benefits. Social Security sets a monthly income limit to decide what counts as SGA. The exact number typically changes every year with inflation. But even if you work few hours and earn under SGA, you have to be careful about working while applying for Social Security Disability. Social Security could view your work activity as a sign you could work more.
Can I get health care coverage with Social Security Disability?
With approval for Social Security Disability benefits, you qualify for government-provided health care plans. SSDI gets you into Medicare even when you’re not the usual retirement age. There is a waiting period to get Medicare after your disability benefits are approved, but when you’re finally covered by Medicare, it can be life changing. With SSI benefits, you qualify for Medicaid health coverage.
How much payment do I qualify for from Social Security Disability?
Your monthly SSDI checks are calculated using your past earnings. Because of that, the amount varies for everyone. Social Security estimated the national average SSDI payment to be about $1,630 per month in 2026. Your number could be lower or higher. For SSI, the federal government sets a uniform amount every year. It set $994 a month as the SSI rate for an individual in 2026. Your SSI amount can be reduced by other benefits you receive. Talk to the Chicago disability lawyers at Nash Disability Law to pursue the financial relief you need for a more secure life after health problems.
