How does the Social Security Administration determine disability?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does the Social Security Administration determine disability?

Answering your question.

If you’re applying for Social Security Disability benefits, you may wonder: “How do they decide if I’m really disabled?”

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a step-by-step process to decide if you are disabled under their rules. It’s not just about having a health problem — it’s about whether that problem stops you from working full-time for at least 12 months or is expected to lead to death.

Let’s walk through how they make that decision:

Step 1: Are You Working?

SSA looks at whether you’re working and how much you’re earning.

• If you’re working and making over a certain amount (about $1,550/month before taxes in 2025), SSA will likely say you’re not disabled, because you’re able to do substantial work.
• If you’re not working, or earning under that limit, they move to Step 2.

Step 2: Do You Have a Severe Medical Condition?

SSA asks if your condition is “severe.”

• That means it seriously limits your ability to do basic activities like standing, walking, lifting, sitting, remembering things, or concentrating.
• It must last, or be expected to last, at least 12 months in a row (or be terminal).

If your condition is not considered “severe,” your claim will be denied here. If it is, they go to Step 3.

Step 3: Is Your Condition on the List of Disabling Conditions?

SSA has a list of conditions called the “Blue Book.” These are medical issues so serious that if you meet the requirements listed, you’re automatically approved.

Examples include:

• Certain cancers
• Severe heart conditions
• Advanced kidney failure
• Schizophrenia or severe depression
• ALS or multiple sclerosis
• Many others

Even if your exact condition isn’t on the list, you can still qualify — they just move on to the next steps.

Step 4: Can You Do Any of Your Past Work?

SSA checks whether you can still do any job you’ve done in the past 15 years.

• For example, if you used to work in a warehouse lifting boxes, but your back injury prevents that, SSA will ask if you could do another past job, like office work.
• If you can’t do your past work, they go to Step 5.
  

Step 5: Can You Do Any Other Work?

SSA looks at whether you could do any other type of full-time work — even something different from what you’ve done before.

They consider:

• Your age
• Your education
• Your work experience
• Your physical and mental limitations

If SSA believes there are no jobs you can realistically do full-time, you may be found disabled.

If they think you can still work in some kind of job (even if it pays less than what you used to earn), your claim will likely be denied.

What SSA Uses to Make Their Decision:

• Your medical records
• Statements from your doctors
• Forms you fill out about your daily activities
• Your work history
• Sometimes a special exam with a doctor chosen by Social Security
  

In Summary:

To be approved, you must prove:

• You can’t do your old job.
• You can’t adjust to any new job.
• Your condition is severe, backed up by medical evidence, and lasts at least 12 months.

Social Security uses a strict definition of “disabled,” but many people do get approved — especially if their paperwork is strong and they appeal if denied.