Use this free 5-step check to see whether you qualify for disability under Social Security’s rules. It asks the same questions Social Security asks — about your work, your condition, your age, and what you can still do — and shows where each step lands, in plain English.
Do You Qualify for Disability?
A quick 5-step check that walks through the same questions Social Security asks. No sign-up, nothing saved.
How the qualify for disability check works
The check above mirrors Social Security’s own five-step process, called the sequential evaluation. It looks at whether you are working, how serious and lasting your condition is, whether your condition matches a Social Security “listing” or a fast-track, whether you can still do your past job, and finally whether you could adjust to any other work given your age and limits.
You answer in plain language; the tool translates your answers into the rules and shows a clear readout of where each step lands. It does not save anything, and it never makes a decision — only Social Security can do that.
The 5 steps to qualify for disability
Here is what each step checks:
1. Are you working?
Earning about $1,690 a month or more in 2026 is “substantial work,” and usually means a denial no matter the condition.
2. Is it severe and lasting?
Your condition must seriously limit basic work activities and last (or be expected to last) at least 12 months, or be terminal.
3. Does it meet a listing?
Some conditions match a Social Security medical “listing,” and some are Compassionate Allowances that are fast-tracked for approval.
4. Can you do your past work?
If you can still do a job you held before, Social Security will likely say you are not disabled.
5. Can you do other work?
This final step weighs your age, education, and skills. The rules get more favorable at 50 and again at 55.
Plus: work credits
For SSDI you also need enough recent work. If you fall short, SSI may still fit, since it is based on need rather than work history.
What you need to qualify
In short, to be approved you generally need a condition that is severe and expected to last at least a year, you cannot be doing substantial work, and you must be unable to do your past job or adjust to other work. For Social Security Disability Insurance you also need a recent-enough work history; for Supplemental Security Income you need limited income and resources instead.
Once you have a sense of your odds, see how your chances change by location with our disability approval chances by state tool, or read the full disability approval rate by state guide. When you are ready, learn how to apply.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I qualify for disability?
The fastest way is to run the check above — it walks Social Security’s five steps and shows where each one lands for your situation. In general, you need a severe condition expected to last 12 months or more, you cannot be earning above the substantial-work limit, and you must be unable to do your past or other work.
Which conditions automatically qualify?
No condition is a guaranteed approval, but Compassionate Allowances — such as ALS, certain advanced cancers, and early-onset Alzheimer’s — are fast-tracked, and conditions that meet a Social Security “listing” can be approved on the medical evidence alone. The tool flags both as you type your condition.
Can I qualify for disability if I am still working?
Usually not if you earn about $1,690 a month or more in 2026, which Social Security treats as substantial work. Limited or part-time work below that line may be allowed, but it is the first thing Social Security checks.
Does my age affect whether I qualify?
Yes. At the final step, Social Security uses a “grid” that becomes more favorable at age 50 and again at 55, because it expects older workers to have a harder time adjusting to new kinds of work.
What if I do not have enough work credits?
Social Security Disability Insurance needs a recent work history. If you have not worked enough, you may still qualify for Supplemental Security Income, which is based on financial need rather than work credits.
What should I do if my disability claim is denied?
Appeal — do not start over. You usually have 60 days from the date on your denial letter, and most approved claims were denied at least once first. See our guide to what to do after a denial for the steps.
Sources: eligibility rules and the 2026 figures from the Social Security Administration. This check is a plain-English estimate to help you understand whether you may be eligible — it is not a decision and not legal advice. Only the Social Security Administration can decide a claim, and this site is not affiliated with it.