Overview – Social Security & SSI Disability Criteria

General

There are two Social Security disability programs:

1. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and
2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

For both SSDI and SSI disability programs, there are three types of disability benefits:

1. Adult disability benefits,
2. Child disability benefits, and
3. Statutory blindness benefits.

Adult Disability Benefits

Adult 5-Step Disability Evaluation Process. You can receive either or both SSDI and SSI disability benefits if you satisfy the Adult 5-Step Disability Evaluation Process. You must satisfy Steps 1, 2, and 3 or Steps 1, 2, 4, and 5 (most common):

1. Step 1: You are not performing “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) and you satisfy the durational requirement,
2. Step 2: Your impairment is “severe,”
3. Step 3: You satisfy a “listing,”
4. Step 4: You cannot do your “past work,” and
5. Step 5: You cannot do “other work.”

A full discussion is available here – Adult Disability Criteria.

Child Disability Benefits

Child 3-Step Disability Evaluation Process. Based on their disability, your child can only receive SSI disability benefits. Your child must satisfy the Child 3-Step Disability Evaluation Process:

1. Step 1: Your child is not performing “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) and they satisfy the durational requirement,
2. Step 2: Your child’s impairment is “severe,” and
3. Step 3: Your child satisfies a “listing.”

A full discussion is available here – Child Disability Criteria.

Statutory Blindness

For either or both SSDI and SSI disability benefits, you will be found disabled if you are statutorily blind:

1. In the better eye, central visual acuity of 20/200 or less with the use of correcting lenses;
2. In the better eye, the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees.

A full discussion is available here – Statutory Blindness.