Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits
This benefit is paid to people who meet the following requirements: Have earned enough Social Security credits Are unable to work because of a disability that has lasted or will last for at least 12 months or end in death. ...
What is Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits?
Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits are a federally funded program administered by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Social Security pays disability benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have worked long enough and have a medical condition that has prevented you from working or is expected to prevent you from working for at least 12 months or end in death. Studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 1-in-4 chance of becoming disabled before reaching full retirement age.
Program Requirements
To qualify for this benefit program, you must:
- Be unable to work because you have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death.
- Not have a partial or short-term disability
- Meet SSA’s definition of a disability
- Younger than your full retirement age
Certain family members of disabled workers may be eligible to receive benefits based on the work of the disabled worker.
If you would like to find out if you may be eligible for any of the benefits SSA administers, take SSA’s Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool.
To see the listing of impairments that can qualify for disability, visit the "Adult Listing of Impairments" page. Even if your condition is not included in the listing, you still could get benefits.
Application Details
What is the application process for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits?
Once you know which benefits you may be eligible for, visit the Apply For Social Security Benefits webpage to apply online.