Can You Get Disability After a Stroke?
A stroke might qualify you for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, or SSDI. However, you do not automatically become eligible for benefits because you have suffered a stroke.
The Social Security Administration, or SSA, which administers the SSDI program, specifically addresses the qualifying criteria for strokes in its Listing of Impairments, also referred to as the Blue Book. To qualify for SSDI as a stroke survivor, you must be unable to work because of your condition, display certain symptoms, and meet eligibility requirements.
Applying for disability for a stroke is a complicated process requiring extensive documentation. Most initial applications for disability benefits are denied. A Social Security disability attorney can help you prepare and submit your application, represent you at hearings, and fight for the benefits you’ve earned.
Does a Stroke Qualify for Disability Benefits?
A stroke victim can qualify for disability benefits if their condition meets certain criteria. For a stroke to be a qualifying condition, you must demonstrate that your stroke prevents you from working for a minimum of 12 months.
The SSA determines benefits eligibility using its Listing of Impairments, also known as the Blue Book. The Blue Book provides the specific eligibility requirements for someone who has had a stroke to qualify for SSDI under section 11.04.
To qualify for benefits, an applicant must show that for at least three months after their stroke, their condition meets the criteria of A, B, or C below:
A. Sensory or motor aphasia resulting in ineffective speech or communication
B. Disorganization of motor function in two extremities, resulting in an extreme limitation in the ability to stand up from a seated position, balance while standing or walking, or use the upper extremities
C. Marked limitation in physical functioning and one of the following areas of mental functioning:
a. Understanding, remembering, or applying information; or
b. Interacting with others; or
c. Concentrating, persisting, or maintaining pace; or
d. Adapting or managing oneself.
How Long Do I Have To Have Worked To Qualify for SSDI?
To receive SSDI, the applicant must have paid enough into the system to be “insured” by the program, meaning they’ve worked long enough in their lifetime to accrue a minimum number of work credits. Work credits are accrued through Social Security payroll taxes, which are typically deducted from paychecks.
The SSA uses two tests to determine whether you have accrued sufficient work credits for SSDI: the recent work test and the duration work test. The recent work test assesses the amount of work credits you earned in the years preceding your disability, and the duration work test assesses whether you’ve earned enough work credits in your entire lifetime to qualify for SSDI. A person must meet both requirements to be eligible for SSDI.
Generally, workers over age 30 must have worked at least five years out of the 10 years immediately before the onset of their disability, earning a minimum of 20 work credits. In 2025, workers accrue one work credit for every $1,810 earned.
The number of work credits you need to have accumulated to qualify for SSDI varies depending on the age you were when you became disabled. You cannot receive disability benefits if you earn more than $1,620 monthly.
How Much Does Social Security Pay for a Stroke?
The SSA does not provide a guaranteed flat rate of monthly disability benefits per qualifying condition. Rather, the disability compensation paid depends on several factors.
The SSA applies a formula to calculate your SSDI benefits payment based on the average of your 35 highest-earning years. If you worked less than 35 years before becoming disabled, the SSA will use your entire work history. This average number is then adjusted for inflation and rounded down to the nearest dollar to determine the average monthly indexed earnings, or AIME. That figure is then used to calculate your primary insurance amount, or PIA. Your PIA is equal to your full retirement benefit.
As of 2025, the maximum monthly SSDI compensation is $4,018. However, this amount is very rare and limited only to high-income earners with extensive work histories. The average monthly SSDI payment in 2024 was $1,537.
I Qualify for Disability Benefits. Now What?
If you believe you qualify for disability benefits based on your stroke symptoms and earning history, the next step is to submit your application for SSDI to the SSA. You can apply for benefits online, over the phone, or in person at your local SSA office.
You will need to provide identifying information, tax documents, medical records, and similar documentation of your disability, work history, and current working capacity to the SSA when applying. Keep an eye on the status of your application in case the SSA requests that you attend a special medical application. Most communications from the SSA will come through the mail, so be sure to read and keep a copy of anything you receive. You can also track the status of your application online using the SSA website.
Having the advice of an experienced Social Security disability attorney can be helpful when initially applying for disability benefits. The lawyers at Disability Advice can assist you with the entire application process, from gathering the necessary information to submitting your application and appealing your case if you are denied.
What If I've Been Denied Disability for a Stroke?
Getting approved for SSDI benefits is no easy feat. The SSA denies 67 percent of all initial applications for SSDI benefits. However, you still have options available if you’ve been denied.
Since a stroke may leave an individual partially—but not completely—unable to work, stroke survivors often receive denials for failing to meet SSDI’s work requirements. If you’ve been denied on financial grounds or for any other reason, you may wish to appeal your SSDI claim.
There are four levels of appeal consideration for SSDI denials, and you can request an appeal to the next level at any stage of the process. These levels are the following:
- Reconsideration, which is an initial request for the SSA to review your application again
- Hearing before an administrative law judge
- Review by the Appeals Council
- Lawsuit in federal district court
You will receive notice from the SSA by mail if your application for SSDI benefits has been denied. After you receive the denial notice, you have 60 days to file an appeal. Failing to file your appeal in time means you lose the right to appeal your claim and must submit a new application.
Reach Out to a Disability Attorney for Help With Your Benefits Application
It’s in your best interest to have a lawyer by your side through the SSDI application and appeal processes, especially if you’ve reached the levels of appeal that require you to appear before a judge. Disability Advice can help you navigate the complex disability appeals process and make sure you have someone protecting your rights every step of the way.
Contact us online today for your free legal consultation.
- Free case evaluation
- Assist with denied claims
- Ensure you have all documents
- Make the process easy for you
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