If you’re unable to work due to a disability, you can and should apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) through the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). SSDI payments are issued monthly and can help you pay for:
- Shelter
- Food
- Medical care
- Utilities
- And other basic needs
Not every SSDI application gets approved. In fact, the SSA denies most initial claims—meaning many applicants need to work with a trusted SSDI lawyer to appeal the decision. Not sure if your disability claim will be approved or denied? Take a look at the top ten signs your disability claim will be denied and what to do next if you find yourself dealing with SSDI denial.
10 Top Reasons Social Security Disability Insurance Gets Denied
When you’re unable to work, getting approved for disability insurance can make or break living a comfortable life. Sometimes, the reason your claim gets denied is completely out of your control. In other cases, you’re able to address potential pitfalls prior to your initial application or work with a lawyer in an appeal.
Some of the main reasons you will be denied for disability include:
1. You Earn Too Much Income
Social Security Disability Insurance is a federal benefit program for workers who have paid into the Social Security system over multiple years. These payments get deducted from workers’ paychecks each pay period.
In order to get approved for SSDI benefits, you can’t earn above the income limit that’s considered “substantial gainful activity” at the time of your application. The 2025 substantial gainful activity limit is $1,620 per month or $2,700 per month for people who are blind.
If you earn above this amount, you make too much money to be considered disabled and qualified for SSDI payments. However, keep in mind that only wages you receive from working count towards the monthly limit. Passive income from investments isn’t included.
2. You Don’t Have Enough Work Credits
As mentioned above, SSDI is available for people who have paid into the Social Security system. You need to have earned enough “work credits” in order to qualify for SSDI payments.
To qualify for SSDI, you typically need 40 work credits. You must have earned at least 20 of your credits within the 10 years prior to your injury or illness. You can earn up to four work credits in a year, depending on your income.
However, if you’re younger, you may be eligible for SSDI with fewer than 40 work credits under these terms:
- Before Age 24: Six credits earned in the three-year period prior to your disability
- Age 24-31: Half the time between age 21 and the age your disability began. (Example: If you develop a disability at age 27, you’ll need three years of work (12 credits) from the past six years (amount of time between age 21 and 27)).
- Age 31 and Older: 20 credits in the ten-year period prior to your disability
3. There Isn’t Sufficient Medical Evidence
When you apply for SSDI, you need to provide sufficient medical documentation that indicates you have a qualifying condition. Additionally, you also need to provide medical evidence that proves your condition affects your ability to work. Medical evidence includes, but is not limited to:
- Test results
- Prescriptions
- Medical records
- Doctor notes
- Treatment plans
Not providing enough medical documentation is one of the main reasons the SSA denies disability claims. It’s also imperative to ensure your medical documentation isn’t out-of-date, as this can also affect eligibility.
4. Your Condition Is Improving
When the SSA approves disability claims, they want to know you’re attempting to get better and aiming to return to work one day. They don’t want to provide disability benefits to someone who isn’t actually reliant on the funds.
If you continue your treatment as prescribed, your condition may improve, allowing you to eventually return to work.
Many SSDI recipients are rightfully hesitant to return to work because they don’t want to lose their disability payments, only to end up back at square one and ultimately unable to work again. That’s why the SSA offers a trial work period.
The trial work period is a nine-month trial, followed by a three-year extended period of benefit eligibility. This trial period allows SSDI recipients to try out working again while still receiving their monthly disability benefit. If your earnings fall below the substantial gainful activity level during the three-year extended period of eligibility, your SSDI benefits will be restarted without having to file a new application.
5. The Disability Is Temporary or Not Severe Enough
Short-term disability payments aren’t issued by the SSA. You need to prove that your condition is severe enough to last 12 months or longer. The only exception to this requirement is for applicants who are legally blind.
Many disability claims that result from injuries (such as motorcycle or car accidents) are denied because you’re expected to heal in under a year. In this case, you should seek short-term disability coverage. However, if complications from your injury treatment lengthen your recovery period, you may be disabled for more than 12 months and the SSA may approve your claim.
Beyond meeting the durational requirement, your condition must also have “more than a minimal impact” on your activities of daily living, such as:
- Grooming and personal care
- Mobility
- Household chores
- Social interactions
- Recreational activities
If your condition isn’t considered severe enough to impact your activities of daily living and to keep you from working a full-time job, your claim may get denied.
6. The SSA Can’t Reach You
When you apply for disability, the Disability Determination Services (DDS) must be able to reach you and communicate with you regarding your application. DDS helps process SSDI applications at the initial and reconsideration levels. If neither the DDS or SSA can reach you to schedule examinations or communicate with you about important matters, they will likely deny you benefits.
You can ensure the SSA can reach you by sharing your up-to-date phone number, email address, and home address on your application. Be sure to always answer inquiries in a timely manner, and update your contact information if you move or get a new phone number.
You’re allowed to hire an attorney to handle your paperwork and communications, but you need to maintain contact with your representative in order for them to continue communicating for you.
7. Missing Consultative Examinations
One of the next steps in the SSDI approval process is a consultative examination that Social Security schedules for you if they need additional information about your condition. If you don’t attend the examination, your application may be denied. Repeated no-shows almost certainly result in a denied claim.
Consultative examinations are provided at the government’s expense. Additionally, transportation costs to and from the examination are often covered, allowing you access to attend.
If you know you can’t attend a scheduled examination, speak with your claims examiner to reschedule the examination for a time and/or location that works better for you.
8. There Is Suspected Fraud
If you try to obtain SSDI benefits by dishonest means—whether by forging documents, pretending to be someone you’re not, or any other fraudulent activity, the SSA can terminate your eligibility and prosecute you for fraud. If you’re suspected of fraud, you may be the subject of a cooperative disability investigation.
9. Your Disability Is Solely Related to Alcoholism or Drug Addiction
If the only impairment leading to disability is drug or alcohol abuse, Social Security isn’t allowed to approve the application. However, if you can prove that you’d still be disabled if you stopped using drugs and/or alcohol, then you may be eligible for approval. In order to prove your disability, you’ll typically need to establish a period of sobriety during which your medical records continue to show you have disabling symptoms from another condition.
10. You Fail to Complete Prescribed Therapy
As mentioned earlier, the SSA wants to see that you’re taking steps to improve your condition and eventually return to work. If you’re a recipient of SSDI benefits, you need to take medications as prescribed and follow your doctor’s recommended therapies. If you don’t follow your doctor’s advice, the SSA isn’t able to determine if your condition would improve to the point that you could return to work.
In this situation, Social Security may deny your disability claim.
There are certain justifications for failing to follow your doctor’s orders, particularly if a medication, procedure, or surgery could cause you harm, or if you have other financial, religious, or medical reasons that keep you from engaging in a prescribed therapy.
Next Steps: What to Do When You’re Denied Disability
If the SSA denies your disability claim, you’ll receive an SSDI denial letter in the mail. This letter will outline why you didn’t qualify for disability payments. You can see an example of what a denial letter looks like here.
Many people who receive denial letters are understandably discouraged to the point where they don’t want to reapply. However, it’s a wise decision to seek legal counsel before giving up.
At the least, an attorney will be able to clearly explain to you why you didn’t qualify for disability benefits. However, if you still have a valid case, your attorney will work with you to appeal the decision and reapply for benefits.
When Should You Hire an SSDI Attorney?
Working with a disability attorney can make or break getting approved for benefits. You should hire an SSDI attorney as soon as possible after your claim is denied. It’s important to seek legal counsel quickly, as the process of getting approved for disability benefits can be lengthy.
It takes seven to eight months for the SSA to process your initial application. If you get denied, you have 60 days from the date on the denial letter to file an appeal or hire an attorney to file the appeal for you. If you miss the 60 day deadline, you will have to start the entire process over from the beginning.
Keep in mind that the 60 day deadline does not include the time it takes for the SSA to mail the letter. So, by the time you receive a denial letter, you typically have closer to 55 days to appeal. This is why it’s vital to contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Fighting Your Disability Denial
Eligibility criteria for SSDI benefits are extremely strict, especially for people under age 50. It often takes the SSA six to eight months or longer to process a SSDI claim, so dealing with a long delay does not necessarily equate to a denial. However, if your claim ultimately does get denied, you aren’t out of luck yet. You can still work with an experienced disability lawyer to appeal the claim.
If you’re struggling to navigate a disability claim in Alabama, Tennessee, or Florida, don’t lose hope. Reach out to the skilled and compassionate team at Wettermark Keith for a free consultation. We look forward to working with you and improving your chances of securing an approved disability claim.
