Social Security disability

What counts as a disability

Social Security uses one medical definition for SSDI and adult SSI. It checks your case in five steps.

What counts as a disability

For adults, disability means you cannot do any substantial gainful activity because of a medical condition. The condition must be expected to last at least 12 months in a row or to result in death.
Unless your condition is expected to result in death, it must have lasted or be expected to last at least 12 months in a row.
Step 1: Are you working? If you earn more than the SGA amount ($1,690 a month in 2026, $1,770 in 2027), SSA usually finds you are not disabled.
Step 2: Is your condition severe? It must limit basic work activities and meet the 12-month rule.
Step 3: Does your condition meet or equal a listing in SSA's Listing of Impairments (the 'Blue Book')? If yes, you are found disabled.
Step 4: Can you still do work you did in the past? SSA looks at what you can still do (your 'residual functional capacity').
Step 5: Can you do other work? SSA looks at what you can still do plus your age, education, and work experience.
Age matters at step 5. SSA treats people under 50 as 'younger,' 50 to 54 as 'closely approaching advanced age,' and 55 or older as 'advanced age.' Rules called the 'grid' combine these factors.
The Listing of Impairments is in the federal rules (Appendix 1). SSA also posts it online as the 'Blue Book.'
Compassionate Allowances (CAL) is a fast track. SSA's software flags claims that name a condition on the CAL list.
Quick Disability Determinations (QDD) is another fast track. A computer model picks first claims that are very likely to be approved.
Legal blindness means vision of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with glasses, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less.

Only Social Security decides if you are disabled. This page explains the rules; it does not tell you if you will be approved.

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Last checked: November 2026