https://evansdisability.com/blog/social-security-disability-benefits-pay-chart/
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/SSI.html
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html#anchor3
What We Mean by Disability
The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other programs. We pay only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.
We consider you to have a qualifying disability under our rules if all the following are true:
- You cannot do work and engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) because of your medical condition.
- You cannot do work you did previously or adjust to other work because of your medical condition.
- Your condition has lasted or is expected to last for at least 1 year or to result in death.
This is a strict definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that working families have access to other resources to provide support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers' compensation, insurance, savings, and investments.
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html#anchor7
2. Is your condition "severe"?
Your condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work-related activities, such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, or remembering – for at least 12 months. If it does not, we will find that you do not have a qualifying disability.
If your condition does interfere with basic work-related activities, we go to Step 3.
3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?
For each of the major body systems, we maintain a list of medical conditions we consider severe enough to prevent a person from doing SGA. If your condition is not on the list, we must decide if it is as severe as a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, we will find that you have a qualifying disability. If it is not, we then go to Step 4.
We have 2 initiatives designed to expedite our processing of new disability claims:
- Compassionate Allowances: Certain cases that usually qualify for disability can be allowed as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed. Examples include acute leukemia, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), and pancreatic cancer.
- Quick Disability Determinations: We use computer screening to identify cases with a high probability of allowance.
For more information about our disability claims process, visit our Benefits for People with Disabilities website.
4. Can you do the work you did previously?
At this step, we decide if your medical impairment(s) prevents you from performing any of your past work. If it doesn’t, we’ll decide you don’t have a qualifying disability. If it does, we proceed to Step 5.
5. Can you do any other type of work?
If you can’t do the work you did in the past, we look to see if there is other work you could do despite your medical impairment(s).
We consider your medical conditions, age, education, past work experience, and any transferable skills you may have. If you can’t do other work, we’ll decide you qualify for disability benefits. If you can do other work, we’ll decide that you don’t have a qualifying disability and your claim will be denied.
Special Situations
Most people who receive disability benefits are workers who qualify on their own records and meet the work and disability requirements we have just described. However, there are some situations you may not know about:
Special Rules for People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision
We consider you to be legally blind under our rules if your vision cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in your better eye. We will also consider you legally blind if your visual field is 20 degrees or less, even with a corrective lens. Many people who meet the legal definition of blindness still have some sight and may be able to read large print and get around without a cane or a guide dog.
If you do not meet the legal definition of blindness, you may still qualify for disability benefits. This may be the case if your vision problems alone or combined with other health problems prevent you from working.
There are several special rules for people who are blind that recognize the severe impact of blindness on a person's ability to work. For example, the monthly earnings limit for people who are blind is generally higher than the limit that applies to non-blind workers with disabilities.
In 2023, the monthly earnings limit is $2,460.
Benefits for Surviving Spouses with Disabilities
When a worker dies, their surviving spouse or surviving divorced spouse may be eligible for benefits if they:
- Are between ages 50 and 60.
- Have a medical condition that meets our definition of disability for adults and the disability started before or within seven years of the worker's death.
Surviving spouses and surviving divorced spouses cannot apply online for survivors benefits. If they want to apply for these benefits, they should contact Social Security immediately at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to request an appointment.
To speed up the application process, they should complete an Adult Disability Report and have it available at the time of their appointment.
For these benefits, we use the same definition of disability as we do for workers.
Benefits for Children with Disabilities
A child under age 18 may have a disability, but we don't need to consider the child's disability when deciding if he or she qualifies for benefits as a dependent. The child's benefits normally stop at age 18 unless they are a full-time elementary or high school student until age 19 or have a qualifying disability.
Children who were receiving benefits as a minor child on a parent’s Social Security record may be eligible to continue receiving benefits on that parent’s record upon reaching age 18 if they have a qualifying disability.
Adults with a Disability that Began Before Age 22
An adult who has a disability that began before age 22 may be eligible for benefits if their parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. We consider this a "child's" benefit because it is paid on a parent's Social Security earnings record.
The Disabled Adult Child (DAC) — who may be an adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild, grandchild, or step grandchild — must be unmarried, age 18 or older, have a qualified disability that started before age 22, and meet the definition of disability for adults.
It is not necessary that the DAC ever worked. Benefits are paid based on the parent's earnings record.
- A DAC must not have substantial earnings. The amount of earnings we consider substantial increases each year. In 2023, this means working and earning more than $1,470 (or $2,460 if you’re blind) a month.
What if the child is already receiving SSI or disability benefits on their own record and turns 18?
A child already receiving SSI benefits or disability benefits on his or her own record should check to see if DAC benefits may be payable on a parent's earnings record when they reach age 18. Higher benefits might be payable and entitlement to Medicare may be possible.
How do we decide if a child over age 18 qualifies for SSDI benefits?
If a child is age 18 or older, we will evaluate his or her disability the same way we would evaluate the disability for any adult. We send the application to the Disability Determination Services (DDS) in your state that completes the disability decision for us.
What happens if the DAC gets married?
In most cases, DAC benefits end if the child gets married. There are exceptions, such as marriage to another DAC, when the benefits are allowed to continue. The rules vary depending on the situation.
Contact a Social Security representative at
To speed up the application process, complete an Adult Disability Report and have it available at the time of your appointment.
Related Information
Publications
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html#anchor7
Benefits for Children with Disabilities
A child under age 18 may have a disability, but we don't need to consider the child's disability when deciding if he or she qualifies for benefits as a dependent. The child's benefits normally stop at age 18 unless they are a full-time elementary or high school student until age 19 or have a qualifying disability.
Children who were receiving benefits as a minor child on a parent’s Social Security record may be eligible to continue receiving benefits on that parent’s record upon reaching age 18 if they have a qualifying disability.
Adults with a Disability that Began Before Age 22
An adult who has a disability that began before age 22 may be eligible for benefits if their parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. We consider this a "child's" benefit because it is paid on a parent's Social Security earnings record.
The Disabled Adult Child (DAC) — who may be an adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild, grandchild, or step grandchild — must be unmarried, age 18 or older, have a qualified disability that started before age 22, and meet the definition of disability for adults.
It is not necessary that the DAC ever worked. Benefits are paid based on the parent's earnings record.
- A DAC must not have substantial earnings. The amount of earnings we consider substantial increases each year. In 2023, this means working and earning more than $1,470 (or $2,460 if you’re blind) a month.
What if the child is already receiving SSI or disability benefits on their own record and turns 18?
A child already receiving SSI benefits or disability benefits on his or her own record should check to see if DAC benefits may be payable on a parent's earnings record when they reach age 18. Higher benefits might be payable and entitlement to Medicare may be possible.
How do we decide if a child over age 18 qualifies for SSDI benefits?
If a child is age 18 or older, we will evaluate his or her disability the same way we would evaluate the disability for any adult. We send the application to the Disability Determination Services (DDS) in your state that completes the disability decision for us.
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html#anchor7
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html#anchor7
https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/listing-impairments.htm
02-28-2023-0011 - SSA DRAFT CONTINUED (NOTE, SUBJECTS, POINTS, TERMS, CONCEPTS, TOPICS, ETC., COLLECTION DRAFT)
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