Published December 19, 2023
Written by Jackie Jakab
Lead Attorney
If you’re looking for signs your disability claim will be approved, these most likely won’t come from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Instead, pull back the lens to look at your situation as a whole — considering factors like your medical condition(s), age, and work history.
These can clue you into what constitutes a “good case” for disability, according to the SSA.
#1
You regularly see a specialist.
If you regularly see a specialist for medical treatment, this is a good sign that the SSA will approve your claim. Receiving regular treatment from a medical professional shows that you’re putting effort into trying to improve or manage your condition. Medical records, including diagnostic tests and X-rays, can help strengthen your case.
#2
You've been hospitalized.
Another promising sign your Social Security disability claim will be approved: You’ve spent time in the hospital for your condition. This is true for both physical and mental conditions.
If you’re seeking disability for a mental condition, severe mental health crises show the extent of your condition. Medical documentation of hospitalizations and intensive outpatient treatment is helpful to share. These help get across the gravity of your case.
#3
You're over 50.
The older you are, the more likely your disability claim is to be approved.
For example, maybe you worked in a field requiring physical labor that you can no longer do. If you were younger, the government might suggest you could get an office job. If you’re older, however, they most likely will not.
#4
You had a physically demanding job.
If your past work includes a physically demanding job that your body is no longer able to handle, this could set you up for success with your disability claim.
Depending on your ability to stand, walk, sit, lift, carry, and bend, the SSA will sort you into one of five categories:
Sedentary
Light
Medium
Heavy
Very heavy
#5
You don’t have an advanced degree.
If you don’t have an advanced degree, this is another good sign that you'll be approved for disability. A lower level of education may mean you cannot work in a more specialized position that requires specific skills.
A lack of higher education might limit you from landing higher-paying positions that would count as SGA. The SSA uses materials published by the Department of Labor to classify occupations as unskilled, semiskilled, and skilled. According to those guidelines:
Unskilled work can be learned on the job in a short period of time (30 days). You don’t need to prepare or train for this specific job.
Semiskilled work needs some skills but doesn’t involve more complex work duties.
Skilled work requires qualifications that help you understand machine operations or handle complex abstract ideas.
