You would think that all it takes to get Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits is to prove that you are medically disabled and can't work. That seems logical. However, there are other things the Social Security Administration (SSA) looks at in addition to your medical condition that have nothing to do with your disability. You have to also pass SSA's "non-medical requirements" for disability benefits.
You Must be Insured for Benefits
You must have paid into Social Security through past work. This means that taxes were taken out of your pay, called FICA (Federal Insurance Contribution Act) taxes. If you paid into Social Security during your working life, you are insured for retirement benefits. But, to be insured for disability benefits, you must have a certain number of recent work credits.
You Need Work Credits
Work credits are accumulated over your working years. How many you need for disability benefits are tied to how old you are. Generally, if you are 31 years old or older, you must have earned a total of five-years-worth of work credits within the past 10 years.
Your Work Credits Must Be Current
If you stop working, this means you are no longer paying into Social Security. Eventually, your work credits will expire, usually within five years from when you last worked. Because you paid into Social Security, you can get retirement benefits when you are old enough. But you will lose your entitlement to disability benefits if the start of your medical condition began after, what is called, your "date last insured."
Your date last insured can be a hard concept to understand, especially if you have worked for many years. It's understandable to believe that you have the right to disability benefits. But think of it like an auto insurance policy. If you pay for car insurance but then you let your policy expire, you lose the insurance to cover you if you get into an accident. It's basically the same concept with your work credits. Your disability must have occurred on or before they expire.
You Can't Earn Too Much
If you are working and making more than an amount set by SSA, which is called Substantial Gainful Activity, (SGA), you absolutely will not qualify for SSDI benefits. Currently, this amount is $1,000 a month.
Non-Medical Eligibility Recap
The basic non-medical requirements you must meet to be eligible for SSDI, even if SSA finds you disabled are:
· You have paid into Social Security through FICA taxes
· You have recent-enough work credits for your age
· The onset of your disabling medical condition occurred while still insured for disability benefits
· You are not working and earning above substantial gainful activity (SGA)
If you fail to meet the non-medical requirements for Social Security disability insurance eligibility, you won't be approved no matter how disabled you may be. But if you do pass the test, you will more than likely get approved. And then you can look forward to a monthly safety net of benefits you worked for, earned, and fully deserve.
Suzanna is an expert author on the subject of Social Security disability and Veterans disability and is employed with Freedom Disability and Alpha Veterans Disability in Shelton, Connecticut. Suzanna's educational articles provide informative resources on all topics regarding Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits and Veterans disability compensation. http://www.freedomdisability.com.
