Qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in Alabama requires meeting both medical and non-medical requirements set by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Many people assume that simply having a health condition is enough, but the SSA uses strict rules to determine who qualifies. Understanding these rules is the first step to successfully applying for SSDI benefits.
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1. Work History Requirements
SSDI is based on the Social Security taxes you’ve paid while working. To qualify in Alabama, you must have:
- Work credits earned through your past employment. Most workers need about 40 credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years before becoming disabled.
- Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits if they became disabled earlier in life.
Essentially, the SSA looks at whether you’ve worked long enough—and recently enough—to be covered under the program.
2. Medical Eligibility Requirements
In addition to work credits, you must have a medical condition that meets the SSA’s definition of disability. This means:
- Your condition must prevent you from doing substantial gainful activity (SGA). For 2025, this means you cannot earn more than $1,550 per month (or $2,590 if blind).
- Your condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
- The SSA maintains a Listing of Impairments, which includes medical conditions that automatically qualify if you meet specific criteria. Even if your condition isn’t listed, you may still qualify if it severely limits your ability to work.
3. The SSA’s Five-Step Disability Determination
When reviewing your application, the SSA uses a five-step process to decide whether you qualify for SSDI in Alabama:
- Are you working? If you are earning above the SGA level, you generally won’t qualify.
- Is your condition severe? It must significantly limit your ability to do basic work activities.
- Does your condition meet or equal a listed impairment? If yes, you qualify at this step.
- Can you do your past work? The SSA will check if you can still perform jobs you’ve held in the past.
- Can you do any other work? If you can’t perform any job available in the national economy given your age, education, and skills, you may qualify.
4. Documentation Needed to Qualify
To prove you qualify for SSDI in Alabama, you will need to provide strong documentation, including:
- Complete medical records: doctor’s notes, lab results, hospital records, and test results.
- Statements from treating physicians describing how your condition limits your work ability.
- Employment history: details of past jobs and the taxes you paid into Social Security.
- Daily living impact: records or personal accounts showing how your condition affects everyday activities.
How Hogan Smith Can Help
At Hogan Smith, we guide Alabama residents through the complex SSDI qualification process. Our team can:
- Determine if you meet the work credit and medical requirements.
- Help you gather and organize all medical and employment documentation.
- File your SSDI application thoroughly and accurately to avoid delays or denials.
- Represent you through reconsiderations and hearings if your initial claim is denied.
Contact Hogan Smith Today
If you’re asking how do you qualify for SSDI in Alabama, the key is meeting both work history and medical eligibility requirements. But you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Contact Hogan Smith today for a free consultation. We’ll review your situation, explain your options, and help you build the strongest case possible so you can get the disability benefits you need.
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