1. Work Credits Requirement

To qualify for SSDI, you must have worked in jobs covered by Social Security and earned enough work credits. In Kentucky, as in all states:

• You earn one work credit per $1,730 of wages or self-employment income (2024 rate), up to four credits per year.
• Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which must be earned in the last 10 years before becoming disabled.
• Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits depending on their age when disability began. For example, individuals under age 24 may qualify with six credits earned in the three years before disability onset.

2. Definition of Disability

SSA defines disability as:

• Inability to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment
• Condition must last, or be expected to last, at least 12 months or result in death
• Substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit for 2024 is $1,550 per month for non-blind applicants and $2,590 for blind applicants

3. Severe Medical Condition

Your impairment must:

• Significantly limit your ability to perform basic work-related activities, such as standing, walking, lifting, remembering, or concentrating
• Be documented by acceptable medical sources, including licensed physicians, psychologists, or specialists

4. Meeting a Listed Impairment or Equivalent

The SSA uses its Listing of Impairments (Blue Book), which details medical conditions considered severe enough to qualify automatically if criteria are met. These include:

• Neurological disorders (e.g. epilepsy, multiple sclerosis)
• Cardiovascular conditions (e.g. chronic heart failure)
• Musculoskeletal disorders (e.g. severe back injuries, joint dysfunction)
• Respiratory illnesses (e.g. COPD, cystic fibrosis)
• Mental health disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression)
• Immune system disorders (e.g. lupus, HIV/AIDS)

If your condition does not meet a listed impairment, you can still qualify if you prove:

• Your condition limits you so severely that you cannot perform any past relevant work or adjust to any other work in the national economy, considering your age, education, and skills.

5. Duration Requirement

Your medical impairment must:

• Have lasted or be expected to last at least 12 consecutive months, or
• Be expected to result in death

Short-term or partial disabilities do not qualify under SSDI rules.

6. Proof of Medical Evidence

You must provide:

• Complete and detailed medical records, including diagnosis, treatment history, test results, and treatment outcomes
• Statements from treating physicians explaining how your condition limits your daily activities and work capacity
• Records of hospitalizations, therapy sessions, and specialist visits

7. Non-Work Related Disabilities

SSDI eligibility is not based on how the disability occurred. Whether your condition results from illness, injury, or congenital disability, it qualifies as long as it meets SSA’s medical and work credit criteria.

8. Residency and Citizenship Requirements

To receive SSDI benefits, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen or national, or
• A qualified non-citizen lawfully present in the United States

You must also reside within the United States or its territories to receive monthly benefits.