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By Tyler Broome, attorney, Family and Disability Law Firm, P.A.
Social Security usually denies a disability claim for one of two kinds of reasons. A technical denial means you did not meet a non-medical rule, such as work credits or an earnings limit. A medical denial means Social Security decided your condition does not stop you from working. Knowing the common reasons for SSDI denial helps you fix the problem before you appeal or apply again.
If you received a denial letter, call 601-948-8005 for a free consultation with Family and Disability Law Firm, P.A. Appeal deadlines are short, so it pays to act soon.
What Is the Difference Between a Technical and a Medical Denial?
Two offices handle your claim. According to Social Security’s disability evaluation guide, the local field office checks non-medical rules first. These include age, work history, and Social Security coverage. For SSI, the field office also checks income, resources, and living arrangements.
Next, a state agency called Disability Determination Services reviews your medical evidence. A medical consultant and a disability examiner usually decide together whether you meet the federal definition of disability.
Your denial letter explains which kind of decision you received. Read it closely, because the fix depends on the reason. A technical problem may call for different proof than a medical one.
Common Reasons for SSDI Denial Before Medical Review
Some claims never reach a medical reviewer. These technical reasons for SSDI denial often surprise people who are clearly sick or injured.
Not enough work credits. SSDI is insurance you earn by working and paying Social Security taxes. In 2026, you earn one credit for every $1,890 in covered earnings, up to four credits a year. Social Security’s work credits page explains the tests. If you are 31 or older, you generally need 20 credits from the 10 years right before your disability began. Younger workers can qualify with fewer.
If you do not have enough credits, SSI may still be an option. Our guide to SSI vs SSDI in Mississippi explains how the two programs differ.
Your coverage ran out. Work credits do not last forever for disability purposes. Social Security uses a date last insured, the last day you meet the insured status rules. If you stopped working years ago, you must prove your disability began on or before that date. Old medical records can make or break this kind of claim.
Earning too much. Social Security will not find you disabled while you perform substantial gainful activity, or SGA. In 2026, the SGA limit is $1,690 a month for most people. For people who are statutorily blind, it is $2,830 a month. Social Security has announced higher limits for 2027 of $1,770 and $2,950. Part-time work can still count as substantial, so talk with a lawyer before you take on any job.
What Are the Medical Reasons Social Security Denies Disability?
Most medical denials come down to proof. Social Security uses a five-step process, and a claim can fail at any step.
The condition will not last 12 months. Under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1509, your impairment must last, or be expected to last, at least 12 months in a row. A condition expected to result in death also qualifies. A serious injury that should heal within a year usually does not qualify.
Not enough medical evidence. Your own description of symptoms is not enough. Social Security needs evidence from acceptable medical sources, such as exam findings, imaging, and lab results. Gaps in treatment often lead the reviewer to conclude your condition is not severe.
Social Security thinks you can do your past work. The reviewer estimates what you can still do despite your limits. Social Security calls this your residual functional capacity. Next, it compares that capacity to jobs you held in the past five years. If you could still do one of those jobs, the claim fails.
Social Security thinks you can do other work. If you cannot do your past work, the reviewer asks whether you could adjust to other jobs. Age, education, and work experience all matter here. The rules treat age 50 and older as a growing barrier to switching jobs. That can help older workers at this step.
Mental health claims face the same tests. Our post on disability for anxiety and depression explains how Social Security weighs those records.
Can Missing an Exam or Skipping Treatment Lead to a Denial?
Yes. Some denials have nothing to do with how sick you are. They happen because a step in the process went wrong.
Missing a consultative exam. Social Security may schedule an exam with an outside doctor when your records fall short. Under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1518, skipping that exam without a good reason can lead to a denial. Illness or not getting timely notice can count as good reasons. If you cannot attend, call Social Security before the exam date and ask to reschedule.
Not following prescribed treatment. Under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1530, you must follow treatment your doctor prescribes if it is expected to restore your ability to work. The rule lists good reasons for not following it. Examples include religious beliefs, a very risky surgery, or a repeat of a surgery that already failed.
Not returning forms or answering calls. Social Security often mails function reports and work history forms. If you do not return the evidence it requests, it will decide your claim based on what it already has. A thin file makes a denial more likely.
Drug or alcohol use. Under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1535, Social Security asks whether you would still be disabled if you stopped using drugs or alcohol. If your remaining limits would not be disabling, the claim fails. Honest medical records about recovery and sobriety matter in these cases.
How Can You Avoid the Common Reasons for SSDI Denial?
You cannot control every decision. Still, a few habits make a claim much harder to deny.
Keep seeing your doctors. Regular visits create a record of your condition over time. Tell your providers about every symptom and every limit, not just the main complaint.
List every provider and test. Include clinics, hospitals, counselors, and pharmacies on your application. Missing records cannot help you.
Describe your limits in detail. Say how long you can stand, sit, or walk. Explain how often you need to rest, lie down, or miss a day.
Watch your mail and your deadlines. Return every form, attend every exam, and keep your address and phone number current with Social Security.
Be careful with work. Report any earnings and track your monthly gross pay against the SGA limit.
Veterans can face extra questions about how a VA rating fits the claim. Our post on VA disability and SSDI covers that issue.
What Should You Do After an SSDI Denial in Mississippi?
You generally have 60 days from the date you receive the notice to appeal. Our guide on how a Social Security disability appeal in Mississippi works walks through each level. If your case moves forward, read what happens at a disability hearing in Jackson, Hattiesburg, or Tupelo.
Starting over with a new application can cost you money. An appeal can keep your original filing date, which may affect back pay. Our post on how far back Social Security disability pays explains why that date matters. Exceptions may apply, so check your letter and get advice.
A denial letter is discouraging, especially when you cannot work. It is often not the final word on your claim.
How Family and Disability Law Firm, P.A. Can Help
Family and Disability Law Firm, P.A. helps Mississippi clients with SSDI and SSI applications, appeals, and hearings. Attorney Tyler Broome leads the firm. The team can review your denial letter and spot the reasons for SSDI denial in your file. It can also gather missing medical records and track every deadline. Learn more about our Social Security disability help for Mississippi families.
Talk With a Mississippi Social Security Disability Lawyer
If Social Security denied your claim, call 601-948-8005 or toll-free at (877) 317-8005 for a free consultation. You can also contact us online.
This post is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Attorney advertising.
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