Why is SSDI so hard to get?
Asked by: Dawn Stamm | Last update: June 5, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (60 votes)
Why do most people get denied for SSDI?
The most common nonmedical reason for denying a claim is insufficient number of recent work credits.
Why is it so hard to get on Social Security disability?
There are a few reasons. SSDI/ SSI is not based on a diagnosis, but on how the disability impacts an individual. It takes a lot of documentation to prove how one is impacted. Incomplete documentation from the applicant or the care provider makes the process take longer.
How hard is it to get approved for SSDI?
When there are cases where it is clear someone needs and qualifies for SSDI, they are approved. About 33% of SSDI recipients are approved on initial application with an average of wait of about 2.5 months.
What are the odds of getting SSDI the first try?
On average, 35% of claimants get approved on the first application, 10% get approved if they appeal a denial of their application which is called a reconsideration, and approximately 50% get approved during an Administrative Law Judge hearing.
How to get approved for social security disability benefits and doctors
What automatically approves you for disability?
- Musculoskeletal Disorders, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and back pain.
- Special Senses and Speech, such as blindness and hearing loss.
- Respiratory Disorders, such as cystic fibrosis and respiratory failure.
- Cardiovascular System, such as hypertension and heart disease.
What is the most approved disability for SSDI?
Overall, however, the most approved disability for Social Security is disabilities involving the musculoskeletal system and/or connective tissues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), such conditions include arthritis, back pain, and lupus.
What disqualifies you from SSDI?
SSDI benefits are reduced for individuals who earn at least $880. An individual who earns $1,220 per month or more will no longer qualify for any SSDI payments at all. Note that income from other sources, like investments or rental properties, does not count toward this limit.
What is the maximum back pay for SSDI?
The maximum SSDI will provide in back payments is 12 months. Your disability would have to start 12 months before you applied to receive the maximum in SSDI benefits.
What is the average SSDI check?
To give you an idea of how much SSDI pays, for 2025, the average SSDI payment is $1,580 per month. But claimants (applicants) who were just approved in 2023 are receiving an average of $1,753.
What illness automatically qualifies for disability?
Neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, benign brain tumors) Mental disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression) Cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases) Immune system disorders (e.g., HIV infection, lupus, inflammatory arthritis)
What is the longest wait for SSDI approval?
The average response time for the SSA to reach a decision after you apply for SSDI benefits is three to four months, but this time period could be extended to up to eight months.
What is the hardest state to get disability?
As of 2024, Utah is the hardest state to initially get approved for SSDI. It has an approval rating of 44.64% for first-time applicants. Who Is Eligible for Maximum Disability? A person who meets the SSA's work history and disability requirements is eligible for the maximum disability amount of $3,822 a month.
What is the easiest condition to get disability?
What Is the Most Approved Disability? Arthritis and other musculoskeletal system disabilities make up the most commonly approved conditions for social security disability benefits. This is because arthritis is so common. In the United States, over 58 million people suffer from arthritis.
What state has the highest SSDI approval rate?
- Hawaii — 78% approval rate.
- North Carolina — 62% approval rate.
- Oklahoma — 62% approval rate.
- Delaware — 61% approval rate.
- South Carolina — 60% approval rate.
- Michigan — 60% approval rate.
- Oregon — 59% approval rate.
- New Jersey — 59% approval rate.
What disqualifies a person from disability?
These can include income levels, the severity and duration of your condition, and the degree you cooperate with medical professionals and the SSA. It is not an exhaustive list, however. Other disqualifiers can also include imprisonment and fraudulent activity.
What is the average SSDI payment in 2024?
In 2024, everyone receiving Social Security retirement, Social Security disability, and Supplemental Security income will see a 3.2% increase in their benefits. This means an average increase of more than $50 per month: Average monthly SSDI (2024): $1,537. Maximum monthly SSI (2024): $943.
What is the 5 year rule for Social Security disability?
The Social Security 5-year rule refers specifically to disability benefits. It requires that you must have worked five out of the last ten years immediately before your disability onset to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
How long after SSDI approval are funds released?
After receiving a favorable written decision on your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claim, it typically takes 1 to 3 months for benefits to arrive. If your approval followed an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing, the process may extend longer.
What not to say when applying for SSDI?
- “It's not that bad. ...
- “I'm getting better.” ...
- “I can work, but no one will hire me.” ...
- “It hurts.” ...
- “I'm not being treated.” or “I stopped treatment.” ...
- “I have a history of drug use/criminal activity.” ...
- “My relative gets disability.”
What gives 100% disability?
The 100 percent disability rating is often awarded to veterans with two or more limbs that have been amputated or paralyzed or for veterans with active service-related diseases such as cancer, severe cardiac conditions, or psychiatric conditions such as PTSD, bipolar, depression, or schizophrenia.
What disabilities are hard to prove?
- Mental Health Conditions.
- Chronic Pain Disorders.
- Fibromyalgia.
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
- Autoimmune Disorders.
What is the most overlooked disability?
Q: What Is the Most Commonly Overlooked Disability? A: Generally, the most overlooked disabilities are mental health disorders. These include depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, to name a few. They are often overlooked and misunderstood.
What qualifies for automatic approval on disability?
There are certain disabilities that automatically qualify individuals for SSI or SSDI benefits under the Compassionate Allowances initiative. These encompass conditions such as adult-onset Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and specific types of cancer.
What conditions are not considered a disability?
Broken limbs, sprains, concussions, appendicitis, common colds, or influenza generally would not be disabilities. A broken leg that heals normally within a few months, for example, would not be a disability under the ADA.