What to Do When You Cannot Work Due to a Disability

Let’s say you’re in Orange County and something happens; it could be an injury, a diagnosis, or a condition that stops you from working. Not temporarily, but something serious, long-term, and beyond your control. Suddenly, going to work is not possible anymore. If that’s your situation, this blog post is for you.

Becoming disabled is scary. But what’s even scarier is going through the system alone or delaying your claim until your savings are gone. The government system does provide help, but only if you follow the rules, apply correctly, and push when needed.

And if you’re in California, especially in Orange County, having an ally like an Orange County disability workers’ compensation lawyer on your side can make all the difference when dealing with the system.

Let’s go into specifics on what to do when you cannot work due to a disability.

Confirm That You Meet the SSA’s Definition of Disability

Not every health issue qualifies as a disability under Social Security. Their standard is very specific, and yes, strict. So, before anything else, you need to understand what they actually mean by “disabled.”

For Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you are considered disabled if:

You cannot work at all, not just your old job, but any substantial work, because of your condition.
You cannot adjust to another type of work due to your medical issues.
Your condition has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 consecutive months (or result in death).

Here’s something to keep in mind, though: They do not cover partial disabilities or conditions expected to improve quickly. If your situation doesn’t meet all three points, you won’t qualify for SSDI.

Check if You’ve Worked Enough to Be Eligible

Even if your condition qualifies, SSDI is not just handed out. You have to prove you’ve worked enough under jobs that paid into Social Security.

Here’s how it works:

Every year you work, you earn up to 4 work credits. In 2025, one credit equals $1,810 in wages or self-employment income.
When you earn $7,240 in one year, you’ve earned the full 4 credits for that year.
You usually need 40 credits total, and 20 of those must be from the last 10 years. That’s called the 20/40 Rule.
If you’re younger, you might qualify with fewer credits. For example, if you’re under 24, you could qualify with just 6 credits earned in the last 3 years.

Opt for SSDI if You’ve Never Worked Before

If you don’t have the work credits for SSDI, you might still qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This is a needs-based program. Your work history doesn’t matter, but your income and assets do.

You can apply for both SSDI and SSI together. This is called concurrent benefits. SSA will look at your case and let you know which one (or both) you’re eligible for.

If your disability is related to vision, you should know the SSA has special rules that might work in your favor. For example:

If your vision can’t be corrected better than 20/200, or your field of vision is under 20 degrees, you may be considered legally blind.
The monthly income limit is higher for blind applicants (up to $2,700). Even if you aren’t legally blind, vision problems combined with other conditions might still qualify.

These rules exist because blindness has a unique impact on employment options, and the SSA recognizes that.

Keep Track of Your Case and Be Ready to Appeal

Many first-time applications get denied. Most times, it’s because something was missing or unclear.

You can appeal. And you should do so quickly because there are deadlines.

If your case is denied:

You’ll get a letter explaining why.
You have 60 days to file an appeal.
You can ask for a reconsideration, a hearing, and even go up to a federal court if necessary.

Use Work Incentives If You’re Ready to Try Working Again

If things improve and you feel ready to return to work, don’t just start working without telling SSA. There are special rules called work incentives that let you test your ability to work without losing your benefits immediately.

For example:

You can enter a trial work period and still get full SSDI benefits while testing your ability to work.
Health coverage can continue even if benefits stop.
If things don’t work out, you may qualify to restart your benefits faster without filing a new claim.

Conclusion

Disability benefits aren’t charity. You paid into the system, and now you’re simply accessing the support you earned. The key is knowing the process, being thorough with your documentation, and not trying to go through it all alone.