Living with a disability comes with many challenges that can impact your ability to work and manage your finances. If you are struggling financially due to a disability, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can help. Benefits can be used to pay for your essential needs and can provide additional assistance to your family.
Here, learn if SSDI cash benefits are right for you. Find out about the program’s requirements, how to apply for benefits and more in this slideshow. If you think the program may be for you, you can contact the Social Security Administration to submit an application.
Currently, about 8 million Americans living with a disability are eligible to receive financial benefits from this government program. Over 1.5 million children are also eligible to receive SSDI payments because one or both of their parents are unable to work. Keep reading to discover how SSDI benefits can provide assistance for you and your family.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has set a few general requirements to determine if you are eligible to receive SSDI benefits. To qualify, you must:
- Meet the definition of having a disability as established by the SSA.
- Have a work history that is long and recent enough to meet the program’s work requirements.
Generally, your disability must prevent you from being able to work for a minimum of one year unless you have certain disabilities such as:
- Spinal stenosis.
- Chronic emphysema.
- Blindness.
- A few other conditions may automatically qualify you to receive SSDI benefits.
A specific amount of work credits is required for most applicants to be eligible. The work requirements will be set based on your age. Fortunately, it is a simple process to see if you are eligible.
For instance, applicants who are 30 years old will require at least 12 work credits whereas 60-year-old applicants will require a minimum of 38 work credits. Workers earn 1 work credit for every $1,140 that they earn throughout their lifetime, with a maximum of 4 credits each year.
You will continue to be eligible for SSDI for as long as you have a disability that keeps your incapable of performing a substantial amount of work. The SSA will review your case periodically depending on the initial assessment of your medical condition at the time of your initial application.
If you are expected to have improvements in your medical condition, your case will likely be reviewed to verify your continued eligibility within six to 18 months after your first benefit payment.
Your case will likely not be reviewed after about three years if there is a possibility for your medical condition to improve. If your medical condition is not expected to have improvement at all then your case will most likely be reviewed at a less frequent rate, at least after seven years.
In the event that you start working again while receiving SSDI, which is allowed, then the SSA will verify to see if you meet the requirements for Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).
