Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides financial assistance to individuals who are unable to work due to a qualifying disability. If you’re considering applying for SSDI, it’s important to understand the basic eligibility requirements to determine if you qualify for benefits.
Work history requirements
One of the primary eligibility requirements for SSDI is a work history. You must have worked in jobs covered by Social Security and paid Social Security taxes for a certain amount of time. The number of work credits you need depends on your age when you become disabled. In general, you can earn up to four credits per year. Most applicants need 40 work credits, with at least 20 of them earned in the last 10 years, but younger individuals may need fewer credits.
Disability criteria
To qualify for SSDI, you must have a disability that meets the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) definition of a disability. This means that your condition must be severe enough to prevent you from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA). Additionally, your disability must be expected to last at least one year or result in death. The SSA has a list of conditions that automatically qualify for SSDI, but if your condition isn’t on that list, the SSA will evaluate whether it is severe enough to keep you from working.
Work capacity
Your ability to perform work is another important factor in determining eligibility for SSDI. If you can still do substantial work, you won’t qualify. The SSA uses the concept of “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) to assess whether you can earn above a certain income threshold. In 2025, if you earn more than $1,620 per month ($2,700 for blind individuals), the SSA will consider you capable of substantial work and may deny your application for SSDI.
Recent work and medical condition
The SSA will also assess whether your medical condition occurred recently enough to qualify for SSDI benefits. You must have worked long enough in jobs that are covered by Social Security and earned enough credits to be eligible. Additionally, your disability must have developed or become disabling within a certain time period from when you last worked, known as the “date last insured.”
The basic eligibility requirements for SSDI include having a sufficient work history, having a qualifying disability, and being unable to perform substantial work. If you meet these criteria, you may be eligible to receive benefits, which can help you maintain financial stability while unable to work.