To qualify for benefits, you must first have worked in jobs covered by Social Security. Then you must have a medical condition that meets Social Security's definition of disability. In general, the Social Security Administration (SSA) pays monthly cash benefits to people who are unable to work for a year or more because of a disability.

The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other programs. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.

"Disability" under Social Security is based on your inability to work. The SSA considers you disabled under Social Security rules if:

• You cannot do work that you did before;
• You cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); and
• Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.

This is a strict definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume that working families have access to other resources to provide support during periods of short-term disabilities, including workers' compensation, insurance, savings and investments.

To decide whether you are disabled, the SSA uses a step-by-step process involving five questions. The questions are:

1. Are you working?
2. Is your condition severe?
3. Is your condition found on the list of disabling conditions?
4. Can you do the work you did previously?
5. Can you do any other type of work?