When a health condition keeps you from working, you may have many questions.
How will you pay your bills? How long can you go without income? Are you sick enough to receive disability benefits? Where do you even begin?
As a Social Security disability attorney, I want you to know that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Social Security Disability Insurance, also called SSDI, exists for workers who paid into the Social Security system and can no longer work because of a serious health condition. However, having a diagnosis does not always mean that Social Security will approve your claim.
Social Security Looks at the Whole Picture
To qualify for SSDI, you must have enough recent work history. While you were working, you earned Social Security work credits. The number of credits you need usually depends on your age when your disability began. Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits. (Social Security) You must also meet Social Security’s rules for disability.
In most cases, your physical or mental health condition must keep you from doing regular work. Social Security will look at whether you can return to your past job. It may also consider whether you could adjust to another type of work. Your condition must have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least 12 months. A condition that is only expected to keep you out of work for a short time will usually not qualify for SSDI. (National Council on Aging) This is where many people become confused. They may know that they cannot return to their old job, but Social Security wants more information.
For example, imagine that your past job required you to stand all day. You can no longer stand for long periods because of severe back pain. Social Security may still ask whether you could perform a job that allows you to sit. Your claim must explain why your condition prevents you from keeping up with work on a regular basis. That may include problems with sitting, standing, walking, lifting, focusing, remembering instructions, working with others, or arriving at work on time.
Your Medical Records Need to Tell the Same Story
A strong SSDI claim is not only about naming your medical conditions. It is about showing how those conditions affect your daily life and your ability to work. Medical records are an important part of that story. Your records may include test results, treatment notes, medications, surgeries, hospital visits, therapy records, and statements from your health care providers.
Continue receiving medical care when you are able to do so. Tell your providers what you are truly experiencing. Do not make your symptoms sound worse than they are, but do not downplay them either. Many people have learned to live with pain, stress, or other serious symptoms. They may tell a doctor that they are “fine” even when they are struggling to get through the day. Later, that one word may appear in the medical record without explaining the full situation.
Be clear about your limitations. Explain what happens when you try to cook, clean, shop, drive, care for yourself, or leave home. Talk about both your good days and your bad days. It is also important to give Social Security complete information about your past work. Your job title alone may not explain what you actually did. A manager at one company may spend most of the day at a desk, while a manager at another company may lift boxes, operate equipment, or stand for hours. Those details matter.
Do not assume that you cannot qualify because someone else was denied. Do not assume that you will be approved because another person with the same condition received benefits. Every disability claim is different. Your age, work history, education, medical evidence, treatment, symptoms, and daily limitations may all affect the decision. Applying for SSDI can feel personal and overwhelming. Social Security forms ask detailed questions about your health, work, and daily life. You do not have to be embarrassed about what you can no longer do. Honest answers help explain why you need support.
At Chandler Advocacy, I help clients understand the Social Security disability process and present the strongest claim supported by their medical and work history. My goal is to make the process easier to understand while making sure each client feels heard, respected, and prepared.
To learn more about SSDI eligibility, read “Who Is Eligible for SSDI?” from the National Council on Aging. While you are there, explore NCOA’s other resources for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families: https://www.ncoa.org/article/who-is-eligible-for-ssdi
This article provides general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship or replace legal advice about your individual case.