Frequently Asked Questions Regarding
Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits
Who Qualifies?
You must have worked long enough and recently enough to qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits. Generally, for persons over age 30, the work must have been performed in five out of the last ten years. There are special rules for younger individuals.
Disability under the government's Social Security program is based on your ability to work. You will be considered disabled if you are unable to do any kind of work for which you are suited and your disability is expected to last for at least a year (12 months) or result in death.
Why Should You File For Social Security Disability Benefits?
There are many advantages to you if you receive Social Security disability benefits. These advantages include:
- Your net monthly income will increase due to annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustments
- Other members of your family may qualify for additional benefits
- An award of Social Security disability benefits now may increase the amount of your future Social Security retirement benefits later
- You will probably pay less income tax even though you may have more disability income
- You are eligible for Medicare coverage after 24 months of Social Security benefit entitlement
- You may continue to receive Social Security benefits for a limited period if you are participating in an approved "trial work program"
Who Qualifies For Social Security Disability Benefits?
| Disability Insurance Benefits - Worker |
Disabled Adult Child |
Disabled Widow(er)s |
| Any age
Must have worked and paid FICA taxes
Recent work required:
- 20/40 quarters
- Younger workers - special test
|
18 or older
Disabled before age 22
|
Age 50 - 59
Disabled within 7 years of:
- Wage earner's death
- Last entitlement to young widow(er)'s benefit
- Divorced widow(er) - married at least 10 years
|
How Social Security Decides If You Are Disabled
You must meet Social Security's definition of disability first:
"Inability to do any substantial gainful (work) activity by reason or any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months."
To decide whether you are disabled, Social Security uses a step-by-step process involving the following five questions:
1. Are you working?
If you are working in 2008 and your earning average more than $940 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled. If you are not working, Social Security proceeds to Step 2.
2. Is your condition "severe"?
Your condition must interfere with basic work-related activities for your claim to be considered. If it does not, Social Security will find that you are not disabled. If your condition does interfere with basic work-related activities, Social Security proceeds to Step 3.
3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?
For each of the major body systems, Social Security maintains a list of medical conditions that are so severe they automatically mean that you are disabled. If your condition is not on the list, Social Security must decide if it is of equal severity to a medical condition that is on the list. If it is, Social Security will find that you are disabled. If it is not, Social Security proceeds to Step 4.
4. Can you do the work you did previously?
If your condition is severe but not at the same or equal level of severity as a medical condition on the list, then Social Security must determine if it interferes with your ability to do the work you did previously. If it does not, Social Security will deny your claim. If it does, Social Security will proceed to Step 5.
5. Can you do any other type of work?
If you cannot do the work you did in the past, Social Security will determine if you are able to adjust to other work. Social Security will consider your medical condition(s), your age, education, past work experience and any transferable skills you may have. If you cannot adjust to other work, Social Security will approve your claim. If you can adjust to other work, Social Security will deny your claim.
Full Retirement vs. Reduced Benefits
| Birth Year |
Full Retirement Benefits at Age: |
Age 62 Benefits (percentage of full) |
Age at Which 80% is paid |
| 1937 or earlier |
65 |
80% |
62 |
| 1938 |
65 plus 2 months |
79.2% |
62 plus 2 months |
| 1939 |
65 plus 4 months |
78.3% |
62 plus 4 months |
| 1940 |
65 plus 6 months |
77.5% |
62 plus 6 months |
| 1941 |
65 plus 8 months |
76.7% |
62 plus 8 months |
| 1942 |
65 plus 10 months |
75.8% |
62 plus 10 months |
| 1943 - 1954 |
66 |
75% |
63 |
| 1955 |
66 plus 2 months |
74.2% |
63 plus 2 months |
| 1956 |
66 plus 4 months |
73.3% |
63 plus 4 months |
| 1957 |
66 plus 6 months |
72.5% |
63 plus 6 months |
| 1958 |
66 plus 8 months |
71.7% |
63 plus 8 months |
| 1959 |
66 plus 10 months |
70.8% |
63 plus 10 months |
| 1960 and later |
67 |
70% |
64 |
If you have any questions regarding the information on this page or Social Security in general, please contact Disability Services, Inc. TOLL FREE at (866) 711-7732.
www.disabilityawards.com
ÐÏࡱá > þÿ [ ] þÿÿÿ Z ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿì¥Á q` ø¿ ‘ bjbjqPqP .T : : ‘ ÿÿ ÿÿ ÿÿ ¤ 2 : : : : 4 n œ 2 w( 2 ^ t t t t O &