SSDI Denials: Why Was My Claim Denied?

here could be different reasons that your SSDI claim could have been denied. The two main categories are technical denials and medical denials.

The names and birthdates of any children who are under 18 and unmarried, have become disabled prior to age 22, or 18-19 and still attending secondary school on a full-time basis.

Technical Details

Technical denials are non-medical in nature, often involving past employment or earnings. An applicant for SSDI had to have worked in order to receive benefits because SSDI is a federal disability insurance program.

In these cases, the applicant may not have worked enough, or worked recently enough to qualify for benefits.

Every year a certain amount of work credits need to be earned, these are income increments and need to total 4 work credits. In 2022, one work credit is $1510 in income earned. Generally, the older a worker is, the more work credits that need to have been acquired.

Additionally, the work credits have to have been acquired within 5 of the last 10 years prior to the onset of the disability so lack of recent enough work could also result in a technical denial.

An SSDI claim can also receive a technical denial if you continue to work after the onset of the disability occurs and you earn too much.

Medical Denials

The SSA can deny your claim for medical reasons if you don’t meet the definition of having a disability according to their standards. The SSA could determine that your disability isn’t severe enough to constitute a full disability. The SSA doesn’t grant SSDI claims for partial disabilities.

To qualify for disability benefits your disability has to have been, or considered to last for a full year.

It may be that your condition is not recognized as a disability by the SSA. The SSA has a list of conditions that qualify as disabilities, this is known as the Blue Book.

If your condition isn’t found in the Blue Book, it is still possible to have your disability claim approved, but you would have to demonstrate to the SSA how your condition keeps you from performing your job, or any other job that you may be qualified to do.

The SSA can also deny your claim if you refuse to cooperate with their requests for medical information or to show up for meetings with an SSA interview or to visit one of their doctors. If you refuse to follow the advice or instructions from your doctor or one of the SSA’s doctors you can also be denied disability benefits for this reason.

Missing Information

You could actually be qualified to receive disability benefits but could have received a technical or medical denial because you didn't provide information that would have showed you have a sufficient work history or that would prove that you do meet the criteria for a disability according to SSA standards.

Appeal Your Case

For so many reasons, applicants for SSDI have their claims denied, this actually amounts to 66% of all first-time applicants. If you're claim is denied, you still have recourse through the appeals process. There are four levels of appeal with varying success rates. However, your chances of winning on appeal increase if you hire a Social Security Disability Attorney.

Experienced disability attorneys know how to present your appeal to the SSA because they are familiar with how the SSA works and what their claims examiners are looking for. This experience could make the difference in your appeal. And, you never have to pay a retainer or any attorney fees upfront. Your disability attorney only gets paid if your claim or appeal is successful.