1. Work Credit Requirements

SSDI is an insurance program based on your work history. You must have earned enough work credits through paying Social Security taxes:

• General rule: You need 40 work credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years ending in the year you became disabled.
• Younger workers: May qualify with fewer credits. For example, someone disabled before age 24 may qualify with 6 credits earned in the 3 years prior to disability onset.

You earn up to 4 credits per year, based on your annual income. In 2025, you earn 1 credit per $1,730 of wages or self-employment income.

2. Medical Eligibility Requirements

Your medical condition must meet SSA’s strict definition of disability:

• Severe impairment: Your condition must significantly limit your ability to perform basic work activities.
• Duration requirement: Your disability must have lasted or be expected to last at least 12 months, or be expected to result in death.
• Substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit: You cannot earn more than SSA’s monthly SGA limit, which is $1,550 per month in 2025 for non-blind individuals (higher for blind applicants).

3. Listed or Equivalent Condition

SSA maintains a Listing of Impairments (Blue Book) outlining medical conditions that qualify if their specific criteria are met. These include:

• Musculoskeletal disorders (severe back injuries, joint issues)
• Neurological disorders (epilepsy, MS, Parkinson’s)
• Cardiovascular disorders (heart failure, coronary artery disease)
• Respiratory disorders (COPD, severe asthma)
• Mental disorders (depression, bipolar, schizophrenia)
• Cancer
• Immune system disorders (lupus, HIV/AIDS)

If your condition is not listed, you can still qualify if it is medically equivalent in severity or prevents you from performing any work.

4. Inability to Perform Past or Other Work

SSA evaluates whether:

• You can perform your past relevant work (jobs held in the last 15 years)
• If not, whether you can perform any other type of work based on your age, education, skills, and medical limitations

5. Residency and Citizenship

• You must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified noncitizen with lawful status to receive SSDI benefits.

Summary of SSDI Eligibility Rules in Maine

• Have enough work credits based on your age
• Have a severe medical condition lasting 12 months or longer
• Be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA)
• Be unable to perform past work or adjust to other work due to your condition
• Meet citizenship or lawful residency requirements