You may know someone who is disabled or read about it in the news, but you probably do not think it could happen to you. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), around one in four adults will be disabled by the time they reach the age of 67. Becoming disabled can be an extremely scary experience, especially if you do not have a financial safety net to rely on. Fortunately, the SSA can provide individuals with that assurance. Each year, millions of disabled Americans apply for Social Security disability benefits, but only about one-third of all applications are approved. Each situation and application is different, but here are a few common reasons why your Social Security disability application may be denied:

You Do Not Meet Basic Eligibility Requirements

Social Security disability benefits are considered to be a public welfare program. This means that you must meet income requirements in order to be a recipient. Part of the definition of being disabled means your earnings are limited and generally not enough to support yourself. According to the SSA, if your earnings are more than $1,260 each month, you generally cannot be considered disabled.