What are the Signs That You Will Be Denied for Disability?

When applying for SSDI or SSI, know the common signs that you will be denied for disability to avoid them on your application.

Receiving disability means complying with several changing requirements that may be confusing at first glance. The amount of disinformation and myths surrounding Social Security doesn’t help the process either.

Avoiding an initial denial is key to a successful SSDI or SSI claim. Consider hiring a Social Security Disability attorney to help guide you from initial review to approval.

Beware the following signs that you will be denied for disability benefits so you have a better idea whether you qualify.

1. Earning Too Much to Qualify for SSDI and SSI

The SSA only provides SSDI or SSI disability benefits to those suffering from a disability and have enough work credits to pay into the system.

Because of its nature as a needs-based benefits program, the SSA sets limits on how much someone can earn before getting denied for disability.

Working while receiving disability benefits is called substantial gainful activity (SGA). The SGA income limit changes every year, but earning above the SGA limit may be a sign that you will be denied disability.

You can still work while receiving SSDI, but you cannot earn above the substantial gainful activity limit. SSI has different substantial gainful activity limits, so keep in mind the differences between SSDI and SSI before applying.

2. Not Enough Medical Documentation

One of the main requirements to qualify for SSDI is suffering from a qualifying medical condition.

To prove you suffer from such a case, you need to send sufficient medical documentation to the SSA. Insufficient medical paperwork is one of the most common reasons SSDI claims get denied.

Although the SSA lists several common qualifying disorders in their Blue Book, your condition may not be on the list.

You can still qualify for benefits even if your condition is not listed, only if you send sufficient medical documentation. Examples of such may be:

• Copies of medical records
• Medical history notes
• Prescriptions
• Test results
• Overviews of doctors’ notes

Make sure these documents are not out-of-date while you submit them to the SSA.

3. Failure to Follow Prescribed Treatment

If you fail to follow the prescribed treatment sent by the SSA, that signifies your condition is not severe enough to warrant disability benefits.

The SSA doesn’t want to give disability benefits to someone who doesn’t need their assistance. Closely follow the SSA’s treatment plan, as deviations without a valid reason may be a sign you will be denied for disability.

4. Insufficient Work Credits

Social security disability is only available to those who have paid enough into the system through work credits. You typically need 40 work credits to qualify for benefits. Also, half of them need to be earned within the last 10 years leading to your injury.

A lack of work credits are a common sign for disability denial, but there are options for younger applicants who have less than 40 credits.

Even if you haven’t earned 40 work credits, there are certain conditions that warrant disability benefits regardless of work or age.

Once you stop working for more than five years (60 months), then your SSD insurance policy coverage automatically lapses.

How Can You Track Your Work Credits?

Work credits are based on your total yearly wages, whether through a company or self-employed. You can only earn a maximum of 4 credits each year, and the amount of income per work credit changes every year.

As of 2025, each credit is worth $1,810 in wages, but that changes every year. If you want to keep track of how many work credits you have, check your My Social Security account.

5. Your Disability is Not Expected to Last for 12+ Months

A clear sign that you will be denied for disability is if your condition lasts less than a year. Your disability must also significantly impact your daily life; injuries curable through basic care may not qualify.

The SSA doesn’t pay temporary or short-term disability benefits to anyone for any reason. In fact, no federal program pays disability benefits unless your health problems make you unable to work for one year.

The SSA only provides benefits for long-term conditions or those resulting in death, the only exception being blind SSI applicants.

6. The SSA Cannot Reach You

A shocking amount of disability claims get denied every year due to unresponsiveness from the applicant.

The Disability Determination Services (DDS) must reach you to move forward with the application process, and failing to do so may be a sign of a rejected claim.

To assist with this process, a Social Security Disability attorney can act as a liaison between you and the SSA. You can work with your attorney to submit the right documents for approval so you don’t miss crucial deadlines to your claim.

7. Addiction to Drugs and Alcohol

Your disability claim may get denied if the SSA suspects you only suffer from the effects of drug and alcohol abuse.

Disability claims resulting from drug and alcohol abuse can still get approved, but you must first prove that you would still be disabled, even if you quit.

To prove this, you must provide medical records showing a period of sobriety while still suffering from the same symptoms.

8. Sustaining a Previous SSDI or SSI Denial

Even though you can appeal a rejected disability claim, if you provide no meaningful evidence when you reapply, the SSA may deny your claim again.

If your claim was previously denied, you may have received a denial letter stating their reasons for rejection. To reopen your case, interpret why they denied your previous claim and work with an attorney to address those issues.

The SSA’s reasons for denial may have been incorrect due to lack of information regarding your case. The only way to receive benefits after a denial is through new evidence in your appeal.

Want a Specialist on Your Side? Hire a Social Security Lawyer.

Many applicants run into these signs and believe their claim will be denied without a chance for appeal. Know that these signs don’t totally discredit your claim, and there are exceptions that have their own parameters for benefits.

The best way to verify your case is by working with a Social Security Disability lawyer who knows your state’s laws. They can help you organize your evidence so you can deliver the strongest case for benefits to the SSA.

LegalASAP is a referral service trusted by 500+ law firms throughout the United States, ready to assist with your claim. You can fill out this short evaluation form or call 1-888-927-3080 to help us connect you to a legal professional.