The rules and requirements for Social Security disability cases are fairly simple. Essentially, to be eligible for either SSDI or SSI disability benefits, claimants must be financially eligible and medically eligible. The Social Security Administration (SSA) examines medical issues (that is, whether your illness or injury is disabling) as well as legal/financial issues (that is, whether you have earned enough credits for SSDI or have low enough income and assets for SSI).
Medical Issues
A claimant must have a medical condition that is severe and either:
*meets the requirements of a Social Security impairment listing
*prevents them from working at any of their past jobs, or
Another important rule is that a claimant's medical disability must have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least one year for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits to be awarded. For more information, see our article on qualifying medically for disability.
Medical Issues
A claimant must have a medical condition that is severe and either:
*meets the requirements of a Social Security impairment listing
*prevents them from working at any of their past jobs, or
- *prevents them from doing any other job, given their education, age, and skills.
Another important rule is that a claimant's medical disability must have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least one year for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits to be awarded. For more information, see our article on qualifying medically for disability.