Free SSDI Tool
SSDI Filing Success Score
A quick check of common factors that matter in SSDI filings.
Answer a few simple questions to see which SSDI readiness signals may apply to you.
What This Tool Does
This tool looks at common SSDI filing factors, like:
Work limits
Medical history
Time out of work
It helps you understand where you may want to learn more.
What This Tool Does Not Do
This tool:
- Does not determine eligibility
- Does not predict approval
- Does not replace the SSA
Only the Social Security Administration decides outcomes.
How It Works
1
Answer 4 quick questions2
Get your score3
See your next steps~30 seconds
Private & secure
No account needed
Common Questions
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that provides monthly benefits to people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes but can no longer work due to a qualifying disability.
Your score is based on factors the Social Security Administration (SSA) considers when reviewing claims: work history, medical evidence, duration of condition, functional limitations, and current work activity. This is for planning purposes only.
No. This score shows how your situation aligns with SSA requirements based on your answers. Only the SSA can decide eligibility. This tool is educational and helps you understand where you may be strong or need more support.
Working doesn't automatically disqualify you. The SSA looks at how much you earn (called Substantial Gainful Activity or SGA). If you earn below certain limits, you may still qualify.
Initial decisions typically take 3-6 months. If denied, appeals can take longer. Having complete medical records and clear documentation may help avoid delays.
Your answers are used only to calculate your score. If you're logged in, we can save your results to your dashboard. We never share personal health information.
Educational tool only. Not legal advice. Not a guarantee of benefits.
SSDI 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.
Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA, is the income limit Social Security uses to decide if you are working too much to qualify. In 2025 the SGA limit is $1,620 a month for non-blind applicants. Earning above SGA almost always leads to a denial. Our SGA checker shows you exactly where you stand.
Date Last Insured, or DLI, is the last date you have enough recent work credits to qualify for SSDI. If your disability started before your DLI, you can still qualify even if you apply later. If it started after, you do not qualify for SSDI no matter how disabling 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.