What Impairments Qualify for Social Security Disability?
A disability can be brought on by an illness, an injury or a congenital condition. A simple, common definition of “disabled” is the inability to perform a task or function physically or mentally like other people.
But that’s not how Social Security sees it. For the government, “disabled” strictly means poor health won’t let you work. And to get Social Security Disability, you have to prove both parts of that definition: you have “poor health” and you “can’t work” because of it.
Social Security created what people call a “blue book” of impairments eligible for disability benefits based on their likelihood to disrupt your ability to work. If you’re diagnosed with a disorder on the blue book listing of impairments, the path to benefits is more direct than for someone whose symptoms are not easily categorized.
Social Security’s impairment list is broad. It identifies over 100 specific illnesses and disorders. It puts them into 14 general categories:
- Breathing and lungs
- Cancers
- Blood disorders
- Congenital disorders
- Digestive disorders
- Endocrine system
- Immune system
- Heart and circulation
- Hormonal problems
- Kidney diseases
- Mental Illness
- Muscles and bones
- Neurological disorders
- Skin diseases
- Vision, hearing and speech
If your condition doesn’t fit a recognized disorder, you still have a path to disability benefits.
Social Security looks at the entirety of your situation. If your symptoms are backed up by medical evidence, and you can show how they keep you from holding a job, you could qualify for Social Security Disability benefits in Atlanta.
It gets complicated. Atlanta disability attorneys at Silver & Archibald can help you manage this. We gather evidence, talk to medical experts, and work with Social Security administrators so your claim has the best possible chance for approval.
Information You Need to Qualify for Social Security Disability in Atlanta
Your life story, especially the work you’ve done and the health problems you face, will determine which of Social Security’s two disability benefits programs you may qualify for in Atlanta.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is available to people who have worked long enough and paid into Social Security before they got sick. SSDI gives you eligibility for Medicare after a waiting period.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is for people who don’t have a steady income, haven’t paid much or anything into SSDI, and have few resources to keep them financially stable. This program also grants you access to Medicaid.
Social Security uses the same criteria for both programs to determine your eligibility. Namely:
- Your medical condition prevents you from doing your current job (if you have one).
- You couldn’t work at any other job.
- Your condition is severe enough to keep you from working for at least a year, or it is terminal.
Once you meet these rules, other factors kick in that impact your eligibility for Social Security Disability. These include:
Your age: If you’re a younger adult, Social Security may decide you could adapt to different kinds of work, making it harder to win benefits. Over 50, your odds of approval increase. Once you reach 67, you’re no longer eligible for disability benefits and instead switch to Social Security retirement benefits.
Your work & income: To be eligible for SSDI or SSI benefits, you cannot participate in “substantial gainful activity.” Social Security defines this as any work that earns you more than a certain limit every month. The limit changes year to year. In 2025, it reached $1,620.
Other resources: This is specific to SSI. If you collect benefits from a pension or a life insurance policy, have cash in the bank, stocks, bonds, or own personal property other than your primary home and one car that totals more than $2,000 in value, you won’t be eligible for SSI.
Working years: For SSDI, how long you worked, how high your income, and how much you paid into Social Security will influence how much you bring home each month in disability benefits. On average, SSDI was paying about $1,688 a month in Atlanta as of 2025.
If you have questions about what qualifies for disability benefits, get answers from the skilled disability lawyers and their team at Silver & Archibald. By the amount of benefits we earn for our clients, Silver & Archibald is the leading disability law firm in Georgia.
We’ll work with you and make sure you get the Social Security Disability benefits you earned.
For help finding financial relief and a greater sense of peace, reach out today.
Get to Know Silver & Archibald Disability Attorneys
Legal cases involving your health struggles are highly personal matters. When you’re looking for help, you want someone who treats you with the personal care, respect, and dignity this moment requires.
Answers to Common Questions About Social Security Disability
Social Security Disability is a huge program with a vast set of rules. As a resource for you as you sort out your disability claim, the disability lawyers at Silver & Archibald have prepared answers to some of the most common questions people have.
Common Disability Benefits Questions »
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