How does a disability or impairment qualify for Social Security Disability benefits?

In Virginia, a disability or impairment might qualify for Social Security Disability benefits if it is expected to last at least a year and is serious enough to prevent you from working at any job or substantially reducing your ability to do basic work activities. To determine whether your impairment is severe enough, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will review your medical records, employment history, age, education, and skills to evaluate your ability to work. The SSA uses a five-step process to determine if your disability or impairment meets the criteria for Social Security Disability benefits. First, they will look at if you are currently engaging in any “substantial gainful activity” (SGA). SGA is defined as working and earning more than $1,260 each month. If you are not engaging in SGA, the SSA will move on to the next step. The second step in the process is to determine if your impairment is “severe.” This means it interferes with basic work activities and has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year. Note that the SSA is looking for medical evidence to support your claim. The third step is to determine if the impairment meets any of the SSA’s conditions. These conditions are listed in the SSA’s “Blue Book” which outlines all qualifying impairments. If your impairment does not meet any of the conditions listed, the SSA will move on to the fourth step. The fourth step is to determine if your impairment prevents you from doing the same work you did before becoming disabled. If you cannot do your past job, the SSA will move on to the last step. The last step is to determine if you can do any kind of “gainful activity.” This means any work that is not considered your past job. If you have a disability or impairment that does not allow you to do any kind of substantial gainful activity, then you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.

How does a disability or impairment qualify for Social Security Disability benefits?

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