Do you qualify for Social Security Disability?

Do you qualify for Social Security Disability?

by Vince Hein, Senior Associate Attorney

There are 5 sequential steps that get evaluated when determining if someone qualifies for social security disability. We will focus on the first 2, with an emphasis on Step 1, which has to do with your income from your work.

If you are looking to find out if you can get social security disability, read on. This article will show you the some of the knock-out questions that often trip people up when they are wondering if they may be eligible for social security disability.

Step 1: Is there Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)?

In 2023, you have SGA if you make more than $1470 gross income per month you are NOT disabled, and you do not move on to step 2. For many people, if they have any job at all, they will not qualify for social security disability.

The $1470 figure is $2460 if you are blind.

If there is SGA, then you are not disabled, and the evaluation ends. If there is no SGA, then you move on to Step 2 of 5.

If you have no income from work, then you do not need to worry about Step 1 of the 5-step process.

Step 2: Is your physical and/or mental condition severe?

For step 2, your impairments have to interfere with basic work-related activities and be expected to last at least 12 months, or result in death.

If your impairments are not severe enough to last 12 months or more or they won’t result in your death, then you are NOT disabled. If your conditions are severe enough to last 12 months or more or result in your death, then you move to Step 3 of 5.

Steps 3 through 5 of the disability process are not covered in this article. The point of this article is to see if you can get past the knock-out questions that often prevent people from becoming eligible for social security disability.

Contact Russell Law Offices, S.C. today to see if you qualify for SSD.

 The consultation is free, and we only get paid if you win.