If a person has a disability or medical condition that prevents them from working, there is probably a lot of stress around how to pay rent and bills. Fortunately, the United States government offers a program that provides benefits for those who are unable to work.
However, not everyone is eligible to receive Social Security disability income. SSDI is only available for those who meet the qualifications.
Social Security disability basics
According to the U.S. News and World Report, 25% of U.S. citizens will have some sort of disability by the time they reach 67 years of age. People who have made contributions to the Social Security program may be eligible to collect SSDI benefits. If the Social Security Administration approves an individual’s application, the person will begin to receive benefits to help replace income. SSDI does not cover all of a worker’s lost income, as most benefits average about 40% of one’s income.
Eligibility requirements
A disability is not the only requirement to receive benefits. In fact, the disability must prevent the person from performing any type of job, not just the worker’s previous position. The disability must also be long term. The expectation is that the condition must result in death or last for at least one year.
The Social Security Administration adds that another main qualification is that the applicant must have had a job in which he or she paid into the Social Security program. Workers must have worked for a certain minimum of time to build up enough credits to be eligible. The work must also be more recent, as the applicant must have worked five out of the 10 years prior to the disability.
Along with meeting the basic requirements, SSDI applicants must be able to prove the severity of the condition and that it prevents work of any kind.
