How does the Social Security Administration (SSA) determine disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a five-step process to determine disability. This process is used for all Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims. The first step is determining if the applicant is engaged in substantial gainful activity (SGA). SGA is defined as the amount of income a person is able to earn, which in 2020 is $1,260 per month for non-blind disabilities and $2,110 per month for blind disabilities. If the applicant is able to work and their monthly income is above these thresholds, they will not be eligible for disability benefits. The second step is determining whether the applicant’s medical condition is considered severe enough to qualify them for benefits. The SSA will look at the person’s medical records and other evidence to decide if the impairment significantly limits their ability to perform basic work activities, such as walking, standing, lifting, or concentrating. Step three involves examining the medical condition against a list of conditions. The SSA has a list of impairments that are already considered severe enough to qualify a person for disability. If the applicant’s condition is on this list, they can qualify without needing to go through steps 4 and 5. During step four, the SSA will evaluate the applicant’s residual functional capacity (RFC). This is a measure of what activities the person is still able to do despite their impairment. Finally, step five is determining whether the person can do their past relevant work. The SSA will consider the applicant’s age, previous work experience, RFC, and other factors to decide if the person is able to return to their prior job or any other job. If the SSA determines that the person cannot do their past relevant work or any other job, then they will be approved for disability benefits.

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How does the Social Security Administration (SSA) determine disability?

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