When Would You Qualify to Receive Social Security Disability Benefits?
Key takeaways:
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides monthly disability benefits to individuals who are unable to work for at least 1 year due to a disability.
The qualifications for SSA depend on your payroll tax contributions to Social Security and how many work credits you’ve accumulated.
It’s important to start the application process as soon as possible because it can take several months to get approved for SSA disability benefits.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides benefits primarily to retired workers. But the agency also has programs for individuals who cannot work due to a disability. You may qualify for coverage even if your illness is expected to result in death. Social Security disability covers more than nine million people.
A disability can lead to severe emotional and financial problems for families. Those in their 20s have a one-in-four chance of becoming disabled before retirement age.
SSA has stringent restrictions on eligibility for disability benefits. But the benefits are usually worth pursuing to help your family replace lost income.
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Below, we’ll discuss the requirements to receive Social Security disability benefits to help you determine if you qualify for financial assistance.
How does Social Security disability benefits work?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal insurance program for individuals who can not perform work for at least a year due to a qualifying disability. Your SSDI benefits may depend on how long your disability is expected to last and how long you were in the workforce. Many employers deduct payroll taxes from your paycheck to fund disability insurance benefits. All qualified individuals must meet medical requirements to receive benefits.
Who qualifies for Social Security disability benefits?
Disability benefits provide financial assistance to individuals who can’t work due to a medical condition. The disability has to last for at least 12 months or be considered a terminal illness that will result in death.
If you fall into the following categories, you may qualify for disability benefits:
Disabled workers under age 65 and their family members
Individuals who are considered to have blind or low vision
Disabled widows or widowers who are age 50 or over, and the deceased spouse has enough work credits
Persons who become disabled before age 22, if the parent or grandparent (in certain cases) who has Social Security coverage retires, becomes disabled, or dies.
Everyone who is eligible for SSDI is also eligible for Medicare. This benefit is available after receiving 24 months of disability benefits. The exception to this waiting period is if you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD, or permanent kidney failure) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease).
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Before you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, you should ask yourself the following questions:
Did I pay Social Security taxes on the wages I earned at work?
Do I have a qualifying disability?
When you pay Social Security taxes on your wages earned at work, you build work credits. SSA requires a minimum number of work credits to obtain benefits. You can earn up to four credits every year based on your annual wages or self-employment income subject to Social Security tax.
If a person became disabled in childhood, they can remain on SSDI as adults. They do not have to meet the work requirements. But the parent of a disabled person must do so.
For 2021, you were eligible to earn one work credit for each $1,470 of qualified earnings in 2021. That number increased to $1,510 of earnings per credit in 2022. Based on the work credit allowance for 2022, you could receive the maximum work credits as soon as you reach $6,040 in qualified earnings.
| Number of work credits | 2022 earnings required to obtain work credits | 2021 earnings required to obtain work credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,510 | $1,470 |
| 2 | $3,020 | $2,940 |
| 3 | $4,530 | $4,410 |
| 4 | $6,040 | $5,880 |
Generally, you have to build up 40 work credits to qualify for benefits through SSA. However, the work credits for disability benefits are different. Your eligibility and work credits will depend on two tests: recent work test and duration work test.
The recent work test assesses the number of work credits earned during the past 3 to 10 years before your disability. Below is a table to help you determine the number of credits that may be required for disability benefits based on your age:
| Age when you develop a disability | Work credits generally needed for disability benefits |
|---|---|
| Before age 24 | You may be eligible for benefits if you accumulated 6 credits during the last 3 years before your disability began. |
| Age 24 to 31 | You may qualify based on the credits you earned after you turned age 21 and before your disability started. You must have worked half the time during that period. Let’s say you become disabled at 27. That’s a 6-year time period from 21 to the start of your disability at age 27. You will need 3 years of work (equivalent to 12 credits) out of the past 6 years to qualify for benefits. |
| Age 31 or older | Generally, you need at least 20 credits in the past 10 years before the start of your disability. |
Source: SSA
The second test needed to qualify for disability benefits is the duration work test. The work duration test is the number of work credits required based on your age when you become disabled. The following chart provides estimates:
| When you develop a disability | Work credits generally needed |
| Before age 28 | 1.5 years |
| Age 30 | 2 years |
| Age 34 | 3 years |
| Age 38 | 4 years |
| Age 42 | 5 years |
| Age 44 | 5.5 years |
| Age 46 | 6 years |
| Age 48 | 6.5 years |
| Age 50 | 7 years |
| Age 52 | 7.5 years |
| Age 54 | 8 years |
| Age 56 | 8.5 years |
| Age 58 | 9 years |
| Age 60 | 9.5 years |
Source: SSA
How can you determine if you have a qualifying disability for SSA benefits?
The SSA has a five-step process to determine your eligibility to receive disability benefits:
Are you working? If you make more than $1,350 a month, or $2,260 if blind in 2022, you generally do not have a qualifying disability.
Is your condition "severe"? The disability must greatly limit your ability to do basic work, such as lifting, sitting, remembering, or walking. This limitation must last at least 12 months. The SSA’s team of doctors and psychologists will determine if you meet the requirements for a severe condition.
Is your condition found on the SSA list of impairments? Some qualified conditions for disability benefits include cardiovascular problems, respiratory disorders, cancer, and mental disorders.
Can you do the work you did previously? The SSA will decide if your disability prevents you from performing any of your past work.
Can you do any other type of work? The SSA will consider a variety of factors, like your age, education, past work experience, and skills.
How much can you receive through Social Security?
For SSDI, your monthly benefits are based on your earnings history and amount of Social Security taxes you paid during your time in the workforce. The calculation is progressive. This means that there are higher benefits for those with lower incomes.
The SSA estimates that, for 2022, the average monthly benefit for all disabled workers was $1,358. You can find the exact SSDI benefit from your online profile at the SSA website.
If you receive other government benefits, your monthly disability payments may be reduced. However, if you receive a payout from a term or permanent life insurance policy, this won’t impact your SSDI benefits. SSDI does not use your assets to determine how much your monthly benefit should be.
How long do Social Security benefits last?
Your disability benefits continue as long as your medical condition has not improved and you still cannot work. There is no maximum length.
The SSA periodically reviews cases of individuals who are receiving disability benefits. You have the responsibility to report whether you can now work, or if your medical condition has improved. Even if you become self-employed, you should notify the SSA to avoid any problems later. SSA wants to keep track of the following information:
When you start or stop work
Job duties
Work hours
Pay rate
When you’re ready to get back into the workforce, you may qualify for a work incentive. This allows you to continue receiving disability payments while you test your ability to perform work activities.
How do you apply for Social Security benefits?
You can apply online at SSA.gov or by phone (1-800-772-1213). Before applying, you should gather information and documents, such as:
List of medical conditions
Information about your doctors, healthcare professionals, hospitals, and clinics
Military service
Details about your spouse and children
Job history
Education and training background
If you apply online, you must meet the following requirements:
You are 18 or older.
You are not currently receiving Social Security benefits.
You are unable to work because of a condition that is expected to last 12 month or result in death.
You have not been denied disability benefits during the last 60 days.
Can you lose your SSA benefits?
Yes, you can. The SSA considers these reasons for losing benefits:
Your medical condition improves, and you can work again.
You are working and making enough income to not be eligible for SSA.
The SSA made a mistake about your edibility.
You are not following medical treatments, and you would probably be able to work if you complied.
You made false, misleading, or fraudulent disclosures to the SSA.
You have not cooperated with the SSA.
It’s important to notify the SSA about any changes that could impact your benefits. If you received more money from SSA than you were eligible for, you could owe money.
How long does it take for a Social Security disability claim to be approved?
Generally, SSDI has a 5-month waiting period to receive your benefits. This means you will receive your first payment in the sixth full month of your disability. For example, you apply for SSDI on January 5, 2022. If you get approval, you will receive a check in June 2022.
There is an exception to the waiting period. If the disability is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and your approval for SSDI came on or after July 23, 2020, you don’t have to worry about the waiting period
What counts as a disability under SSA rules?
The SSA website has a list of eligible disabilities. They are only valid if they prevent you from your previous work or taking an alternative job.
Here are common examples of eligible disabilities:
Angina
Blindness
Cancer
Cystic fibrosis
Epilepsy
Hearing loss
HIV/AIDS
Multiple sclerosis
PTSD
Schizophrenia
There is no waiting period for filing a claim. The SSA encourages you to file as soon as possible.
The bottom line
Social Security Disability Insurance provides a safety net if you become disabled. Even though the rules are onerous, and the process can take more than 6 months to get benefits, the program is still helpful. SSDI can help you replace lost income if you have a qualifying disability that lasts at least 12 months. However, if your disability improves, and you can work again, make sure to notify the SSA or you may owe money.
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References
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