Numerous factors can cause you to be denied for SSD benefits. Below are some of the most common reasons for an SSA disability denial.

You Do Not Have Enough Work Credits

Social Security Disability is available to individuals who have earned sufficient work credits. You earn them by paying Social Security tax into the system while working. You can earn up to four credits per year. To qualify for disability, you must have 40 work credits. Of those, 20 must be within the last 10 years before the disability.

Work credits are lower for individuals under the age of 24. You will need to have completed 6 credits within the prior three years before the disability starts. Those who are 24 to 31 years of age must have worked at least half of the time from the age of 21 to the age they were disabled.

You can check your Social Security credits by logging into the SSA website. SSA will not pay you any benefits if you have not contributed enough credits.

Your Application Was Not Complete

Submitting a complete application is essential. Then, SSA has all the necessary information to determine your qualifications. Some of the most common areas where denials occur include:

• Your personal information is inaccurate or missing. This includes your Social Security number.
• You did not include spouse information. This consists of the date of birth for your spouse and the dates of your marriage.
• You did not list all of your children under the age of 18.
• Your medical provider’s name or contact information is incomplete. Provide a list of all of your doctors and medical providers. Include anyone who treated you in the last few years.
• You did not outline all of your medical tests and assessments. Hospitalization information is incomplete.
• Medications are inaccurate or not explained. You did not include who prescribed them.
• Your work history is missing or incomplete. It must include details of your job, such as hours worked and duties.
• Education and training information is missing.

A complete application is not as simple as filling out a form. You must be able to recall all the medical care you received over the last few years. 

You need to document all of the details about the work you do. More details create a better understanding of your limitations.

Your Medical Evidence Is Insufficient

A big component of your denial could lie in this area. You must meet the evidence requirements to show you are disabled. 

These requirements are set by SSA. They differ for every condition. The evidence you submit must be:

• Objective medical evidence
• From an acceptable medical source
• Establishes clearly that you have a medically determined impairment

Evidence must demonstrate that you have an impairment. The SSA must recognize an impairment for you to qualify for disability benefits. The severity of the impairment must also be clear. This means considering all evidence that demonstrates your inability to function in a work setting.

You must be able to provide evidence of how long the impairment will continue. That includes information on how long you experienced it. Evidence needs to show that you cannot do any work-related physical or mental activities.

You Did Not Follow Prescribed Treatment

You were hurt. Your doctor prescribed specific treatment plans for you. For some reason, you decided not to follow them. SSA wants to know why. Demonstrate that you have good cause for not completing treatment. Some examples of potential reasons include:

• It was against your religious beliefs to engage in the activity required.
• You have a significant, realistic fear of adverse outcomes.
• You physically could not complete the treatment.
• You were mentally unable to follow the treatment.
• There was a high risk of losing your life, a limb, or other serious injury occurring.
• There was a high risk of developing an opioid addiction.
• You could not afford the recommended treatment.

SSA will consider all reasons you submit. Be clear and thorough. SSA may determine that your reason is valid. If so, you may be approved for disability. You must show why the prescribed treatment was not in your best interest.

You Are Earning Too Much Money

SSA Disability provides monetary compensation to individuals who are unable to work. It may also be available to those who cannot earn enough. SSA establishes a substantial gainful activity income level each year. Earning over this amount means you do not qualify for disability.

For 2025, a non-blind person may earn no more than $1620 per month. A blind person cannot earn more than $2700 per month.

Monitor your earnings carefully. Inaccuracies in reporting your income will impact your ability to qualify. Speak to your disability attorney if you are earning too much. Your lawyer can help you navigate the legal options available to you.

How a Social Security Disability Attorney Can Help

Many of these and other denials are avoidable. Work with a disability attorney before you complete your application. 

Your lawyer will have a good understanding of what SSA expects of you through this process. That is important since eligibility differs based on the condition you have.

Receiving a denial is not uncommon. It also does not mean you cannot get help. Your lawyer will work with you to pinpoint any areas where you can improve your application. This will help meet the expectations of SSA.

Set Up a Consultation with Our Social Security Disability Lawyer

See us at Pond Lehocky Disability. Our Social Security Disability lawyer can help you apply for benefits. We also work with those denied. Let’s review your current application and qualifications. 

With our extensive experience, we can reduce the risk of not getting the eligibility you need. Call our office today to schedule a consultation with our compassionate team.