SSDI Appeal Options Explorer
Educational only — Social Security determines outcomes
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Have you received a denial notice?
A denial notice is the official letter from Social Security explaining their decision.
Not sure how to read your letter? Read our guide to SSDI denial letters
SSDI appeals questions, answered
You generally qualify if you have worked long enough to earn the right number of work credits, paid Social Security taxes, and have a medical condition that prevents you from working at a substantial level for at least twelve months. Most adults need 40 credits, with 20 earned in the last ten years.
SSDI is based on your work history and Social Security taxes you paid. SSI is a needs-based program for people with very limited income and assets, no work history required. Some people qualify for both. They have different payment amounts, health coverage, and rules.
SSDI payments are based on your lifetime earnings, not your disability. The average benefit is around $1,500 a month, with a maximum near $3,800. Our free SSDI estimator uses Social Security's formula to give you a personal estimate based on your work history.
About two-thirds of initial SSDI claims are denied, usually for missing medical evidence, gaps in treatment, doing too much work activity, or failing to follow prescribed treatment without a good reason. Most people who keep going and request a hearing are eventually approved.
Social Security uses a monthly earnings limit to decide if you are working too much to qualify. On their forms it is called substantial gainful activity. In 2026 the limit is $1,690 a month if you are not blind. Earning more than that almost always leads to a denial. Our Work & Earnings Checker shows you where you stand.
Your coverage cutoff date is the last day your past work still counts toward Social Security disability. On their forms it is called your date last insured. If your disability started before that date, you can still qualify even if you apply later. If it started after, Social Security disability is not available to you no matter how serious the condition is.
Initial decisions average three to six months. Reconsideration takes another three to five months. A hearing before an Administrative Law Judge often takes one to two years from request. Appeals can stretch the full timeline past three years, which is why strong initial evidence matters so much.
Most people do not need a lawyer for the initial application. At the hearing level, representation roughly doubles approval rates. Disability attorneys work on contingency, meaning they only get paid if you win. The fee is capped by federal law at 25% of back pay, up to a set maximum.