If you’re applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), understanding how the Social Security Administration (SSA) defines “disability” is crucial. SSDI doesn’t cover partial or temporary disabilities. Instead, the SSA has strict requirements to qualify as disabled under their rules.
The inability to perform substantial gainful activity
The SSA considers you disabled if you cannot engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to a medical condition. SGA refers to the ability to earn a specific amount through work. For 2025, the monthly SGA limit is $1,620 for most individuals and $2,700 for blind individuals. If your medical condition prevents you from earning above this threshold, you may meet this part of the definition.
A severe and medically determinable impairment
Your condition must be severe enough to interfere with basic work-related activities. The SSA also requires that your impairment be medically determinable, meaning you must provide medical evidence, such as doctor’s reports or test results, to prove its existence and severity. Conditions without clear medical documentation don’t meet this requirement.
Long-term or terminal conditions
To qualify for SSDI, your disability must last—or be expected to last—at least 12 months or result in death. Short-term disabilities or those with a predictable recovery time, such as a broken bone that will heal in a few months, generally don’t qualify. The SSA focuses on long-term conditions that create significant challenges to employment.
Meeting the Blue Book criteria
The SSA’s Blue Book lists impairments that automatically meet the definition of disability if specific criteria are satisfied. These include physical and mental conditions like cancer, chronic respiratory disorders, and severe depression. However, even if your condition isn’t in the Blue Book, you can still qualify by proving its impact on your ability to work.
Understanding the SSA’s strict definition of disability helps you prepare a stronger SSDI application. Ensure you gather thorough medical evidence and highlight how your condition affects your ability to work over the long term.