What Are the Medical Standards to Qualify for Disability in Muskogee?
For your particular health situation to qualify for Social Security Disability, it must meet a definition of “disability” that’s different from what a lot of people think.
It’s not about your ailment itself, or your physical limitations. To Social Security, whether you have a qualifying disability is all about how your medical conditions keep you from working.
- You must have serious health problems.
- You must be unable to work any job because of your health problems.
- You inability to work must have lasted, or is almost certain to last, at least 12 months (or it’s clearly permanent).
To show this you’ll need to submit medical records outlining your symptoms and treatment and details of your training, skills and work history.
Different medical conditions require different forms of evidence. Proving physical impairments is different from mental health conditions.
Different cases have different challenges, such as explaining pain or fatigue that others can’t see, or explaining how a common illness that millions live with is severe enough in your case that you can’t work.
You can refer to Social Security’s listing of impairments, also called the “Blue Book,” for guidelines on the information you need.
But if your condition isn’t on the list, you could still win benefits by showing how your specific symptoms interfere with everyday activities, no matter what your medical diagnosis. You need a measurement of what they call your “residual functional capacity” or RFC.
This can be a lot to wrap your mind around.
Talk to Troutman Muskogee disability lawyers for a FREE claim consultation.
What Are the Work & Income Standards to Qualify for Disability in Muskogee?
Your health is at the core of your Social Security Disability claim.
But to be eligible for disability benefits in the first place, there are work history, tax-paying and income rules you must meet, too.
Social Security runs two disability benefits programs, which each have different financial qualifications:
To gain coverage from SSDI, you must:
- Have worked and paid Social Security taxes at least five out of the last 10 years. When you worked, you got up to four “work credits” a year from Social Security. You need 40 credits for SSDI coverage to kick in, 20 of them in the last decade.
- Not be earning too much from working. If you’re making more than what Social Security calls “substantial gainful activity,” or SGA, you’ll be denied. SGA is a dollar amount that changes over time. As of 2025, you couldn’t make more than $1,620 a month, or $2,700 if you have statutory blindness, and still get disability benefits.
It’s important to know that the SGA income limit only applies to money you make from working.
You can have savings, investments, interest and returns, and no matter how much you have, it doesn’t matter for SSDI. SSDI doesn’t consider your total wealth, only your inability to earn an income from working right now.
To gain SSI coverage, you must:
- Not be working and earning more than SGA
- Have less than $2,000 in “countable resources” as an individual
- Have less than $3,000 as a couple
SSI doesn’t require a work history, record of paying Social Security taxes, or “work credits” like SSDI. But unlike SSDI, SSI counts savings, investments, property, and some other forms of income against you.
SSI is for people with few financial means.
Not everything counts in adding up your resources, however. Your primary home and one car are exempted from your resources total.
Your financial situation determines whether you should apply for SSDI, SSI or both.
Just like with the medical rules, a Muskogee Social Security Disability lawyer from Troutman can help you understand if you qualify for disability benefits financially.
In the middle of health and money worries, we’re here to help you meet the disability benefits qualifications and get on a better path.
Wherever You Are in the Disability Benefits Process, We Can Help
You may be trying to determine if Social Security Disability benefits are right for you. You may be facing a long, complicated benefits application. Or you’ve applied and been denied. Now what? The Troutman & Troutman Oklahoma disability attorneys can help.
Disability Attorneys Answer Your Questions about Social Security
Your life has been disrupted by health problems. You’ve had to leave work. You’re worried about money. Social Security Disability benefits can provide relief, but they’re complicated. You’ve got a lot of questions. The Troutman & Troutman Tulsa disability lawyers have answers.
SSD Questions & Answers »
