Fact check: What are the current SSDI eligibility requirements?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the current SSDI eligibility requirements consist of two primary criteria that applicants must meet:

Work History Requirements:

• Applicants must have earned 40 work credits, with at least 20 of those credits earned in the last 10 years ^[1]
• Individuals must have worked in at least 5 of the last 10 years ^[2]
• The work must have been covered under Social Security ^[3]

Medical Requirements:

• Applicants must have a medical condition that meets the Social Security Administration's definition of disability ^{[1] [4]}
• The condition must prevent the individual from performing substantial gainful activity (SGA) ^[2]
• The disability must be expected to last for at least 12 consecutive months or result in death ^[4]
• For 2025, the monthly earnings limit for substantial gainful activity is specified for both non-blind and blind individuals ^[2]

Application Process:

• The Social Security Administration uses a 5-step process to determine if an individual has a qualifying disability ^[4]
• There is a five-month waiting period for SSDI benefits ^[5]
• Local Social Security field offices verify non-medical eligibility requirements including age, employment, marital status, and Social Security coverage ^[3]
• Disability Determination Services (DDS) at the state level evaluate the medical aspects of disability claims ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

Special Circumstances:

• The analyses reveal that there are special provisions for children with disabilities and wounded warriors that weren't addressed in the basic eligibility question ^[4]
• Blind individuals have different substantial gainful activity limits compared to non-blind applicants ^[2]

Process Complexity:

• The question doesn't acknowledge the appeal process, which significantly impacts award probability and can affect the overall experience of applying for benefits ^[6]
• There's no mention of the dual-track system where field offices handle non-medical requirements while state DDS agencies handle medical evaluations ^[3]

Timing Considerations:

• The importance of applying as soon as you become disabled is not reflected in the basic eligibility question ^[5]
• The five-month waiting period represents a significant financial consideration that wasn't part of the original inquiry ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself doesn't contain misinformation, as it's a straightforward inquiry about eligibility requirements. However, the framing as a simple question may inadvertently minimize the complexity of the SSDI system:

• The question implies that eligibility requirements are straightforward, when in reality the system involves multiple agencies, complex medical evaluations, and lengthy waiting periods
• By asking only about "current" requirements, it doesn't acknowledge that the substantial gainful activity limits and other thresholds are updated annually
• The question doesn't reflect the reality that eligibility determination is a multi-step process rather than a simple checklist ^[4]

The analyses consistently show that SSDI eligibility is determined through a comprehensive evaluation system managed by multiple government agencies, rather than a simple set of requirements that can be easily summarized.