To be considered disabled enough to get SSDI or SSI your disability must prevent you from working enough to earn SGA, which in 2026 is about $1600/month. I got SSDI about 8 years ago but became disabled 13 years ago. I had to go on SSDI because I could no longer work enough hours to make SGA without ending up in the hospital. I wish I could work, I'd be making about 10x what I get on SSDI but my disease is so bad that it's just unsafe for me to attempt to work. It's awful.