1. Work History Requirements

To qualify for SSDI, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough to earn sufficient work credits:

• You typically need 40 work credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years before your disability began.
• Younger applicants may qualify with fewer credits, depending on their age.

Work credits are based on your annual earnings, and you can earn up to 4 credits per year.

2. Medical Disability Criteria

The Social Security Administration (SSA) only approves claims for people with severe, long-term disabilities. To meet their definition of disability:

• Your condition must prevent you from engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA).
• It must have lasted (or be expected to last) at least 12 months, or result in death.
• The SSA maintains a Listing of Impairments (also known as the "Blue Book"). If your condition is listed and meets the criteria, you may automatically qualify.

Even if your condition isn’t listed, you can still qualify if it limits your ability to work significantly.

3. Inability to Perform Work

The SSA uses a five-step evaluation process to determine if you're eligible:

1. Are you working above the SGA limit?
2. Is your condition severe and interfering with basic work activities?
3. Does it match or equal a listed impairment?
4. Can you still do any of your past work?
5. Can you adjust to any other type of work based on your age, education, and skills?

You must prove you are unable to perform any type of meaningful work due to your condition.

4. Massachusetts Disability Determination Services (DDS)

Once your initial application is submitted, it’s reviewed by Disability Determination Services in Massachusetts. They:

• Review your medical records and documentation
• May require you to attend a consultative exam
• Decide whether your disability meets the SSA’s criteria