soccertese,

SS determines disability based upon a person's ability to work at or above (or even near in reality) the SGA level. What is this? Significant Gainful Activity is a dollar amount set by SS. In 2013 it was $1040. If your hourly rate is high enough, you don't have to work many hours to be disqualified.

Research the "grid rules" though. There are concessions made for workers ages 50 and 55, so if you can prove you were eligible this may help.

I'm not trying to discourage you, btw. You just DON"T want to focus on proving something that is irrelevant to SS.