What is the criteria for a worker to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits?

To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, a worker must be unable to engage in any gainful activity due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to last for at least 12 months. This criterion ensures that the disability is sufficiently severe and lasting, indicating that the individual cannot perform any substantial work. The definition of 'gainful activity' refers to work that results in earnings above the substantial gainful activity (SGA) threshold, which is updated periodically.

The requirement for a 12-month duration reflects the program's focus on providing support to individuals with long-term disabilities rather than short-term conditions that may resolve quickly. This timeframe emphasizes the need for a stable and significant impairment affecting the individual’s ability to work.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the Social Security Administration's (SSA) established guidelines for disability benefits. For instance, the requirement to be unable to work for at least 6 months suggests a shorter period that doesn't meet the SSA’s criteria for a qualifying disability. Being retired or over 65 is unrelated to disability qualifications and instead pertains to an age-based retirement system. Lastly, constant medical supervision is not a specific requirement for qualification; rather, the focus is on the impairment's impact on work capability