Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are meant to compensate an individual for the loss of income due to a medical condition or illness that hinders the individual from engaging in substantial employment. To be eligible for these benefits, you must demonstrate that you have a qualifying disability.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines a qualifying disability in precise terms:

  1. It must be an inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA).

  2. It must be due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment. 

  3. It must have lasted or be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or to result in death. 

SGA refers to work that generates earnings above a specific threshold. In 2024, this threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for those who are blind.

The impairment must stem from an anatomical, physiological or psychological abnormality that can be demonstrated through medically accepted clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. Conditions that are typically considered totally disabling include musculoskeletal issues affecting the back, visual and hearing impairments, cardiovascular conditions, digestive disorders, neurological diseases, and blood disorders.

Other medical conditions might also qualify as disabilities under SSDI criteria. If your impairment significantly restricts your daily activities to the extent that you are unable to perform any job functions, you are probably eligible for SSDI benefits. The SSA evaluates evidence from both medical and nonmedical sources to make this determination. Medical sources include doctors who have assessed, examined, or treated the applicant for their impairment, as well as hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities. Nonmedical sources can be educational personnel, public and private social welfare agency staff, family members, caregivers, friends, neighbors, employers, and clergy.

Meeting these criteria, however, does not guarantee automatic approval for SSDI benefits. One of the challenging aspects of the SSDI process is that a large number of applicants — more than two-thirds — are initially denied, often due to errors in their applications or insufficient documentation. If you’re denied, retaining an experienced Social Security Disability attorney can enhance your chances of having your application approved and receiving your benefits more quickly.

Massengill, Caldwell & Coughlin, P.C. assists clients in Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City, as well as throughout the entire Upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia region, in pursuing SSDI benefits and appealing denials. Call 423-797-6022 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.