10 Signs You Qualify for Disability Benefits in 2025

Key takeaways:

Below are 10 promising signs that you qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Keep in mind these aren't requirements. You can still qualify for SSDI and SSI if none of these things are true.

1. You’re 50 or older

2. You have regular specialist treatment

3. You have a history of surgery

4. You have a prescribed walking aid

5. You are on oxygen

6. You have a colostomy bag

7. You have a schizophrenia diagnosis

8. You’ve been hospitalized in the last year

9. You cannot use your hands effectively

10. You have a 100% P&T rating from the VA

Whatever your situation is, Atticus can help. We are a law firm that has helped thousands of Americans get the disability benefits they deserve. To see if you qualify and get free advice on your application, click here to take our 2-minute eligibility quiz.

1. You’re 50 or older

If you’re 50 or older, it’s easier to convince the SSA you have a qualifying medical condition that leaves you unable to return to work or to retrain for new jobs. It’s easier if you’re at least 55 years old, and easier still if you’re at least 60 years old.

All disability applicants need to prove they can’t work to qualify for benefits. Younger individuals need to show that they can’t do the types of work they’ve done in the past and that they can’t retrain to get a new job. The SSA is more lenient with older individuals and doesn’t expect people closer to retirement age to have to retrain.

74% of Social Security disability recipients are 50 or older.

2. You have regular specialist treatment

The hardest part of the disability application is proving to the SSA that you can’t work because of a medical condition. Receiving care from specialist doctors shows the SSA that your condition is severe and that it continues to affect you even though you’re actively trying to manage it.

Having a clear record of specialist care for at least one year is a good mark if you can reach it. At the same time, receiving specialist treatment can always help your case. More regular visits bolster your case even more.

Common types of specialists include:

• Cardiologist

• Chiropractor

• Endocrinologist

• Gastroenterologist

• Neurologist

• Neurosurgeon

• Oncologist

• Orthopedic

• Psychiatrist

• Physical Therapist

• Pulmonologist

• Rheumatologist

3. You have a history of surgery

When your medical history includes surgery (or multiple surgeries) to treat a medical condition, the SSA takes that as evidence that you’ve tried to manage and improve your condition, but it continues to affect you.

Surgery alone isn’t enough to get benefits. It strengthens your claim that you have a qualifying condition. For example, conditions like arthritis or back pain are common but don’t always rise to the level of disabling. But if your doctor recommended surgery as a treatment, the SSA will understand that your specific condition is more serious.

Remember that to be eligible for SSDI and SSI with a disability, you must have a medical reason that you can’t work for a full year. Any operation or surgical procedure with an extensive recovery time could qualify you. Complications, infections, or permanent restrictions also strengthen your claim.

4. You have a prescribed walking aid

The ability to walk and stand is crucial for most jobs so if you have difficulty moving around and have been prescribed an ambulatory aid — a cane, walker, crutches, knee scooter, rollator, or similar assistive device — it’s easier to prove to the SSA that you’re unable to work.

The key is the prescription. If you simply went to the store and bought yourself a walker, the SSA won’t view it as seriously as when a medical professional prescribes you a walker.

5. You are on oxygen

If you require the aid of oxygen and if you have an oxygen tank, it’s more likely that you have a medical condition that qualifies for SSDI or SSI. Having an oxygen tank won’t automatically qualify you. You still need the medical documents to show that your health prevents you from being able to work. However, living with an oxygen tank clearly impacts your ability to handle many common work duties, especially tasks that require significant movement. At the same time, if your work experience primarily includes desk work or more sedentary jobs, the SSA may not consider an oxygen tank to be as much of an inconvenience.

6. You have a colostomy bag

If you have a colostomy bag and it interferes with your daily life, there’s a good chance you can qualify for disability. Your chances are higher if you have specific issues with the bag, like frequent leaking or allergic reactions to the adhesive that keeps it in place.

An underlying digestive disease that requires a colostomy bag, ostomy bag, or stoma can also help you get benefits so long as it makes it harder for you to hold a job.

Keep in mind that you can only get Social Security disability if your condition will last for at least one year. If you plan to have your colostomy reversed within the next year, for example, you probably won't qualify for benefits.

7. You have a schizophrenia diagnosis

The SSA doesn’t make it as easy to qualify for disability with a mental health condition as it does for physical conditions. However, schizophrenia is one of the more commonly approved mental illnesses. If you have an official diagnosis and a medical history that shows how your schizophrenia has made it difficult to hold a job or interact with others, there’s a good chance you can meet the SSA’s medical requirements for disability benefits.

If you have any diagnoses for mental health conditions in addition to schizophrenia — such as anxiety, depression, OCD, or PTSD — those can also help you qualify.

In all mental health cases, we recommend hiring a disability lawyer to help improve your chances of winning benefits.

8. You’ve been hospitalized in the last year

Hospitalizations are a clear sign to SSA medical examiners that your condition is severe. This is true no matter what condition you apply with, but it’s especially important to share if you’re applying with a mental health condition.

The SSA has a harder time diagnosing the severity of mental illnesses and non-physical conditions, so don’t miss any opportunity to share significant treatment. If you have any psychiatric hospitalizations or received intensive outpatient treatment, make sure to include it in your application. The more recent they are, the more they’ll help your case.

9. You cannot use your hands effectively

Your hands are vital for just about every job so you’re more likely to get approved for disability benefits if your medical condition means you can’t do any of the following with your hands:

• Write

• Type

• Text

• Use a phone

• Grip items

If you struggle to do other daily tasks involving your hands, like buttoning your shirt, that’s also worth mentioning in your application.

10. You have a 100% P&T rating from the VA

Anyone with a 100% Permanent & Total (P&T) VA disability rating qualifies for a simpler SSDI or SSI application process. You can learn more about the expedited process here.

Even if you don’t have a 100% P&T rating, you can receive VA disability benefits and Social Security disability benefits at the same time. The medical evidence that SSA looks for is similar to what the VA wants, so your experience going through one program helps you know what to expect from the other.

Next steps to get your benefits

The next step is to apply for benefits if you haven't already. Most applicants get their initial application denied, unfortunately, but you have 60 days to appeal and approval rates actually increase at later appeal stages. Hiring a disability lawyer can also help improve your chance of winning benefits. Reputable lawyers also don't charge anything upfront. You only pay their fee if you win benefits, the amount you have to pay is capped by law, and it's a one-time fee that comes out of your first disability check. A lawyer can also help you fill out SSA paperwork, gather medical records, and answer all your questions about the process.

Atticus is a law firm that has helped thousands of Americans get the disability benefits they deserve. To see if you qualify and get free advice on your application, click here to take our 2-minute eligibility quiz.