When health problems prevent you from working, Social Security Disability (SSD) provides crucial financial support. As a federal program, SSD rules and requirements remain the same across all states, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy system to navigate for the unfamiliar. At Farah & Farah, our attorneys understand how complex this system can be and we’ll help you through every step of the process to get the benefits you deserve.
We sat down with Social Security Department Manager Erin Floyd and SSD Attorney Youssef Khanachet from Farah & Farah to better understand the SSD application process and how Farah & Farah can help you get the support you need.
What Does Social Security Look at First To Determine if I Qualify for SSD?
The first thing Social Security examines is whether you’re still working and earning above what’s called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold. This threshold is the maximum amount you can earn while working and still potentially qualify for disability benefits.
What Is the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) and Its Threshold?
For 2025, if you’re working, you can earn up to $1,620 gross (before taxes) per month and still potentially qualify for SSD. If you’re blind, this threshold is higher at $2,700 monthly gross. Social Security updates these amounts every year to keep pace with inflation.
If your income changes month to month, Social Security looks at your monthly average. In some cases, they might even look at your yearly average to get a complete picture of your earnings.
What Are SSD Work Credits?
Work credits are how Social Security measures whether you’ve worked enough to qualify for disability benefits. You earn work credits by paying Social Security taxes through your employment and reaching the SGA threshold. In 2025, you get one credit for every $1,810 you earn, a maximum of four credits if you earn $7,240 in the year. Think of it as earning one credit for each quarter (three months) you work, as long as you earn enough during that time.
How Many Work Credits Do I Need To Qualify for SSD?
The standard requirement is 40 credits, but the rules differ for younger workers. For example, if you became disabled at age 30 and worked between ages 21 and 30, you would need about four and a half years of work history to qualify.
These requirements adjust based on your age, with fewer credits needed for younger workers. Social Security offers calculators to help determine if you qualify, and our team at Farah & Farah can review your earnings history to figure out exactly where you stand.
How Do I Know My Job Is Considered a Covered Job?
Any job where you pay Social Security taxes counts toward your disability work credits. However, some workers may not have coverage for SSD benefits. This often happens with self-employed individuals whose net profits (not gross earnings) aren’t high enough to reach the decided SGA threshold of that year after business expenses or in situations where taxes weren’t paid into the Social Security system.
What if I'm Not Working and My Average Earnings Are Under the SGA Threshold?
If you’re not working or earning less than the SGA amount, Social Security moves on to reviewing your medical conditions. This is where having experienced legal help can make a significant difference in your case.
Can Farah & Farah Help Me Determine if I Reach SSD Requirements?
Yes! Our team can review your Social Security earnings record if you’re unsure whether you qualify. We’ll examine your work history and help determine whether you have enough credits to be eligible for benefits.
How Does Social Security Determine if My Medical Condition Qualifies for SSD?
To qualify medically for SSD, your health conditions must significantly limit your ability to work. This includes basic work activities like lifting, standing, walking, sitting, remembering, concentrating, or interacting with others. These limitations must have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least 12 months.
Medical History: Why It Matters
At Farah & Farah, we always advise clients to maintain regular treatment with their healthcare providers. Consistent medical care creates a clear record of your condition over time, showing any improvements or decline in your health.
Sometimes, people don’t have the best records or have no records at all. Social Security may send you to a Consultative Examination (CE) with a state-paid doctor. For example, if you’re 55 or older with a history of physical labor and have obvious disabilities like failed back surgeries, Social Security might approve you even without extensive recent treatment. However, having your own medical evidence is always better for your case.
Health Conditions That Qualify for SSD
Social Security maintains a detailed “Listing of Impairments.” Common qualifying conditions include:
- Back, neck, and joint problems
- Mental health conditions
- Heart disease and blood pressure issues
- Vision and hearing loss
- Brain injuries and neurological conditions
- Breathing problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Cancer
- Immune system disorders
How Does Social Security Evaluate Multiple Medical Conditions?
Social Security considers how your conditions affect each other and your overall health. For instance, if you have heart failure, diabetes, obesity, and COPD, they consider how each condition affects you individually and how they combine to limit your ability to work.
What if My Condition Isn't on the Listing of Impairments?
You can still qualify for SSD even if your condition isn’t on Social Security’s list. What matters is proving how severely your condition limits your ability to work. At Farah & Farah, our attorneys know how to present your medical evidence effectively to show why your condition prevents you from working.
How Can Farah & Farah SSD Attorneys Help Me Make My Case?
Our attorneys can submit detailed briefs to Social Security at every level of your claim, from initial application to reconsideration, and especially at hearings. We carefully review your medical records to identify key evidence that supports your case.
We go beyond just collecting records. Our team:
- Sends specialized forms to your doctors for specific conditions.
- Gets detailed information about your physical limitations.
- Tracks your ongoing medical treatment.
- Identifies documentation errors that could hurt your case.
For example, if your medical records incorrectly show you’re still smoking when you’ve quit, this could affect your claim for breathing or heart problems. Many clients don’t realize these small details matter, but our experience helps catch and correct these issues.
How Do I Qualify for SSD if My Condition Doesn't Meet a Listed Impairment?
Social Security looks at your recent work history if your condition doesn’t exactly match their listings. Thanks to a new rule that took effect on June 22, 2024, they now only look at jobs you did in the last 5 years instead of the last 15 years. This change makes it easier for many people to qualify.
To count as recent work, you must have worked at the job for at least 30 calendar days at the SGA threshold. For example, if you worked consistently for 30 days, earning above the SGA amount, Social Security considers this significant work history.
What if My Disability Didn't Happen Recently?
Social Security reviews medical records from when you say your disability began. For instance, if you state you became disabled in January 2023, they’ll look at your medical records from then until now. They want to see:
- How severe your conditions were when they started.
- Whether you got regular medical treatment.
- How your conditions changed over time.
- Specific details about your limitations.
Some medical records don’t provide enough detail. A doctor’s note saying “patient came for follow-up” doesn’t help prove disability. That’s why Social Security sometimes requires a CE for more specific information about things like:
- Range of motion
- Ability to use your hands
- Walking and standing limitations
- Mental health functioning
What if I'm Unable to Pay for Ongoing Treatments?
At Farah & Farah, we understand that medical care is expensive. We help our clients find affordable treatment options, including:
- County health departments
- Free and low-cost clinics
- Social services programs
- State healthcare assistance
We provide each client with a list of providers in their area based on their zip code. Social Security also maintains a list of resources by location on its website.
What Are the Steps To Determine if I Qualify for SSD?
Social Security uses a five-step process to evaluate every disability claim:
1. Current Work Check
First, they verify whether you’re working above SGA levels ($1,620 monthly in 2025). If your income varies, they may average your earnings over several months.
2. Medical Condition Review
Your health problems must severely limit your ability to work for at least 12 months. Our team helps gather and present medical evidence that clearly shows these limitations.
3. Medical Listings Comparison
Social Security checks if your condition matches their list of disabilities. Even if it doesn’t match exactly, we can help prove your condition is just as limiting.
4. Recent Work History
Under the new 2024 rule, Social Security only looks at jobs you did in the last 5 years. This is much better than the old 15-year rule.
5. Other Work Possibilities
If you can’t do your recent jobs, Social Security considers whether you could do other work based on your age, education, past work experience, and any physical and mental limitations.
How Does Social Security Determine My Payment Amount?
Your monthly payment depends on the lifetime earnings shown in your Social Security account. Social Security calculates your benefit using the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) formula. This formula examines three sections of your earnings history, using different percentages for each section. Your monthly benefit amount is calculated by adding:
- 90% of your first $1,226 in average monthly earnings
- 32% of your earnings between $1,226 and $7,391
- 15% of any earnings above $7,391
For example, if you earned $2,000 per month on average:
- First $1,226 × 90% = $1,103.40
- Remaining $774 × 32% = $247.68
- Total monthly benefit = $1,351.08
Social Security also considers whether your spouse receives disability benefits. There’s a family maximum benefit amount if multiple family members receive benefits. For example, if you, your spouse, and your children all receive benefits, there’s a cap on the total monthly amount your household can receive.
Do I Have To Reapply for SSD Every Year?
No, but Social Security does conduct periodic reviews to check if your condition has improved. These are called “continuing disability reviews.” We advise our clients to:
- Keep getting medical treatment even after approval.
- Document any changes in your condition.
- Be careful when filling out review forms.
The Function Report form can be tricky. It asks about your daily activities, and sometimes people hurt their cases by overstating what they can do. For example, if you have severe back pain but write that you regularly do housework like sweeping and mopping, this could suggest you can work. Our attorneys can help you accurately describe your limitations without accidentally undermining your case.
How Do I Create a Social Security Account?
Creating a Social Security account will help you track your disability claim as well as lifetime earnings. You can visit SSA.gov/myaccount to get started. As you’re setting up your account, Social Security may prompt you to verify your identity by asking questions regarding your financial history:
- Which bank gave you a mortgage
- What loans have you recently taken out
- Previous home addresses
This account lets you access important information about your work history and benefits. If you’re unsure whether you qualify for SSD, you can review your earnings history, which entails your yearly income, to see how many work credits you’ve earned. At Farah & Farah, we can help our clients review these records to better determine if they’ve earned enough to reach the SGA threshold and, in turn, credits for disability benefits.
What Happens After Social Security Approves My Disability?
After medical approval, there are a few technical steps to complete before your benefits begin. First, you’ll need to provide your bank account information to Social Security for the direct deposit of your benefits. If you have a workers’ compensation case, you must also provide Social Security with:
- The settlement order signed and dated by all parties
- Copies of settlement checks
- Payment records from your workers' comp case
At Farah & Farah, we help gather and submit this documentation as soon as possible to avoid delays in your benefits. Social Security will then calculate your benefit amount, determine any back pay owed, and set up your monthly payments. Once approved, SSD benefits typically continue without monthly changes. However, if you also receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income), the amount might change monthly based on your income and resources.
How Farah & Farah SSD Attorneys Can Help Build Your Case
Our experienced legal team knows what Social Security needs to approve disability claims. We help at every stage—from the initial application through appeals. You don’t have to struggle through this complex process alone. Contact Farah & Farah today for a free consultation about your SSD claim. Our caring and skilled team will review your case and explain how we can help fight for the benefits you deserve.
