SSDI is a federal program that pays monthly cash benefits to disabled people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes.
It is:
- Insurance-based (tied to your work history)
- Not based on current assets
- Often a gateway to Medicare
SSDI may be relevant if:
- You worked for years and paid Social Security taxes (most W-2 jobs do this automatically), and
- You now can’t work at your previous level because of a disability that is expected to last at least a year or result in death, and
- Social Security finds you “disabled” under its own rules.
Family members sometimes qualify on your record (for example, some spouses or children).
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Work Credits / Insured Status
- You need enough work history in recent years. This is measured in “credits.”
- Younger workers need fewer credits than older workers.
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Disability Definition
- Social Security uses a strict definition of disability.
- They look at your medical conditions, work history, and whether you can do any substantial paid work.
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Not a Short-Term Disability Program
- SSDI is for long-term or permanent disabilities, not brief illnesses or injuries.
- The monthly benefit is based on your past earnings, not financial need.
- There is usually a 5-month waiting period after your “disability onset date” before payments start (with some exceptions).
- If approved, you may get back pay for the period Social Security says you were disabled but not yet paid.
(Exact formulas and amounts are handled by Social Security. This wiki does not calculate benefits.)
- After you receive SSDI for a certain period, you usually qualify for Medicare, even if you are under 65.
- Some people have both Medicare and Medicaid.
See: /benefits/us-medicare
You can typically apply:
- Online through the Social Security Administration
- By phone
- In person at a Social Security office (accessibility can vary)
Common steps:
- Fill out an application describing your work history and conditions.
- Provide medical records or sign releases so SSA can request them.
- Sometimes attend exams with SSA-contracted doctors.
- Initial denials are common. Many people win on reconsideration or at a hearing.
- Long waits. Processing can take months or longer.
- Confusing letters. Notices may be hard to understand, especially around overpayments or work reviews.
If you’re denied or get a confusing notice, see:
/benefits/benefit-denials-and-appeals
¶ Work and SSDI
There are rules that let you try working without immediately losing SSDI:
- Trial Work Period
- Extended Period of Eligibility
- Other work incentives
The details are complex and change over time. Before working more hours or earning more, it’s usually wise to:
- Contact Social Security directly, and/or
- Talk with a benefits counselor, legal aid, or advocacy organization.
- SSDI – Based on work history, can be larger benefit, not asset-tested.
- SSI – Needs-based, for people with low income and assets, with lower payment amounts.
Some people receive both SSDI and SSI. See: /benefits/us-ssi