Should I apply for Social Security disability insurance benefits?
If you are unable to work due to a medical condition, you may be eligible for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration. Before starting the application process, here are some things to know first.
What is Social Security Disability Insurance?
Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, is a financial safety net for workers who are unable to continue working due to a serious medical condition. It is a total disability insurance program for insured workers.
Are you insured for disability benefits?
If you contributed to Social Security through the jobs you had by paying an employment tax called the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), you are insured for benefits. But there is a catch.
Depending on your age, you must also have worked enough recently and accumulated enough quarters. For example, if you are 31 or older, the rule is that you must have worked a total of 20 quarters, or five years, in the past 10 years to qualify for disability benefits.
Check your earnings statement
The best way to find out if you are insured for disability benefits is to check your earnings statement. This statement used to be mailed annually about three months before your birthday. It is now available online at the Social Security Administration website.
It is a good idea to review your statement before applying for disability benefits. It will not only tell you if you are insured, but you can also find out how much your monthly cash benefit could be.
Please understand that your benefits are calculated from your employment history. Therefore, if you no longer work and pay FICA taxes, you will never be able to get more benefits, even if your condition worsens.
Does your medical condition qualify?
Once you know if you are insured for benefits, the next hurdle is proving that you are disabled.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines “disability” as a condition that is so serious that it prevents you from working at any job for one year or could result in death.
The SSA has identified a long list of medical impairments that meet this definition. You can find them in a publication commonly called the SSA “Blue Book”.
If your condition is on the list, chances are you won’t have a problem qualifying for disability benefits, especially if you have medical evidence and support from your doctors.
But what if your condition is not listed? Don’t be discouraged. SSA understands that there are exceptions and has designed a complex assessment system to determine disability that takes into account your age, job skills, education, and medical history.
However, it could take months before it is approved. Applying for a disability is complicated, even online at the SSA website.
It may be best not to try an application on your own. Find a Social Security disability advocate to help you get the safety net of the disability benefits you’ve earned.