For Social Security disability purposes, a worker is disabled only if unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable impairment that:

Why A is correct

The Social Security definition of disability requires the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or has lasted, or can be expected to last, for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. It is a stricter, all-work standard rather than an own-occupation test, and it requires medical evidence. Private disability policies often integrate with or supplement this federal definition, which is why agents must understand it.

Why the other options are wrong

• B) A 30-day duration does not satisfy the 12-month continuous-duration requirement of the Social Security disability standard.
• C) The Social Security test looks at any substantial gainful activity, not merely the worker's usual occupation, so it is stricter than own-occupation.
• D) The definition requires medically determinable evidence, but an employer-provided exam is not part of the statutory standard.

Memory hook

SSA says: any gainful work, 12 months, or death. A higher bar than most private own-occupation policies.