Eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance? Here’s How to Apply

Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, is a program for disabled workers, adult children and widows or widowers that provides monthly payment to recipients. The program typically requires a qualifying diagnosis that prevents an individual from working for at least a year or a diagnosis that is expected to result in death. 

However, just meeting the minimum requirements doesn’t automatically guarantee that you’ll receive SSDI. Instead, applicants must provide a considerable amount of evidence to confirm qualification, and the process itself can take a long time. Below, we’ll fill you in on the details for eligibility and how to apply for SSDI. 

For more, check out the Social Security payment schedule for the month and the Supplemental Security Income payment schedule.

What conditions qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance?

Qualifying for SSDI isn’t so cut and dried as you might think it could be. Given the variety of ailments that could keep you from working, there’s no set-in-stone list that will automatically disqualify you if you don’t check all or even some of the boxes. However, some specific conditions automatically qualify as long as you meet the proper diagnosis requirements. 

The Social Security Blue Book, or Disability Evaluation Under Social Security, is a directory that details approved disabilities. For adults, they’re broken down into 14 categories. 

• Cancer (Leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, breast cancer and prostate cancer)
• Cardiovascular system (congenital heart disease and heart failure)
• Congenital disorders that affect multiple body systems (non-mosaic Down syndrome)
• Digestive disorders (bowel or liver disease)
• Endocrine disorders (diabetes, thyroid disease, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia)
• Genitourinary disorders (chronic kidney disease)
• Hematological disorders (sickle cell anemia, thrombosis and hemophilia)
• Immune system disorders (HIV, inflammatory arthritis and lupus)
• Mental disorders (bipolar disorder, dementia, depression and intellectual disabilities)
• Musculoskeletal disorders (spinal disorders or amputations)
• Neurological disorders (Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injuries)
• Respiratory disorders (asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aka COPD)
• Skin disorders (burns, dermatitis and ichthyosis)
• Special senses and speech (impaired hearing, sight and speech)

For children, the same categories apply, and low birth weight (LBW) and failure to thrive (FTT) are included. Qualification for children is slightly different, as there’s no need for proof that the disability can prevent them from working. Instead, proof that the condition imposes a severe functional limitation for at least a year or is likely to be the cause of the individual.

How do I apply for Social Security Disability Insurance?

Before you apply for SSDI, make sure you have everything ready for the process. You’ll need ample documentation about your disability, diagnosis and employment history. Gather everything you can beforehand so you aren’t scrambling for it later. 

You can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance online, over the phone at 1-800-772-1213, or by stopping by a local Social Security Office. If you opt for the office visit, it may be beneficial to call ahead of time, as you’re more than likely to need an appointment. 

If you’ve applied for SSDI within the last 60 days and were denied, you will automatically be denied again, so exercise patience during the process. Applicants can also not already be receiving Social Security benefits prior to applying to SSDI. 

What could cause my SSDI application to be denied?

Between 2010 and 2019, the average denial rate of SSDI benefits was 67%. There are several reasons why your application could be denied, and below is a short list of factors that could contribute to a denial. 

• Applying again after denial instead of submitting an appeal
• Insufficient medical evidence to support disability diagnosis
• An impairment that is not expected to last 12 months
• An impairment that is not considered severe
• Applicant is able to perform his or her usual type of work
• Applicant is able to perform another type of work

The applicant has an impairment resulting from:

Or, the applicant:

• Fails to cooperate
• Fails to follow prescribed treatment
• Does not want to continue development of the claim
• Returns to substantial work before disability can be established

Are there additional programs outside of SSDI?

Social Security Disability Income recipients may also qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits if they meet certain criteria. In an agency report from 2022, the SSA revealed that about one in 10 SSDI recipients also had SSI as an additional source of income. 

Funded by the Treasury Department and administered by the SSA, Supplemental Security Income also has strict requirements for qualification. It generally is provided to those who have low income and resources. And while SSDI is a benefit that’s earned through Social Security taxes deducted through the course of your employment history, SSI is not, and you can still qualify if you’ve never worked or paid Social Security taxes. 

While the 2024 maximum payout for SSI recipients is $943 for an individual and $1,415 for a couple, other factors can reduce your monthly benefit. Your income, your living situation and certain family members’ income can affect your SSI payment. 

Learn how to check your eligibility and apply for Supplemental Security Income. 

For more on Social Security, find out if you have to pay back a Social Security overpayment and four ways you could lose your Social Security benefits.