For Social Security disability insurance (SSDI), 'disability' means:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
Social Security uses a strict, all-or-nothing definition of disability: the worker must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 continuous months or to result in death. The standard considers the worker's age, education, and work experience, and it is much stricter than private disability insurance's own-occupation definition. Temporary injuries and partial impairments do not qualify; loss of a limb is not automatically disabling if the person can still perform SGA.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) The inability to perform one's own occupation is the own-occ test used by private disability income policies. Social Security uses the stricter substantial gainful activity standard.
- C) SSDI requires a medically determinable impairment expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Temporary short-term injuries do not qualify.
- D) The test is whether the person can engage in substantial gainful activity. Losing a limb is not automatically disabling if the person can still work at a substantial level.
Memory hook
SGA is the gate: if you can still work at a substantial level, Social Security says no.