SSDI – Social Security Disability Insurance

About Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

The Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”) program pays benefits to individuals with qualifying disabilities who worked long enough, recently enough, and paid Social Security taxes. In other words, there are 2 parts to determining eligibility:

If you are "insured" under SSDI, and
If your disability is severe enough

The Difference Between SSDI and SSI

Note that SSDI is a separate program from "SSI", which stands for Supplemental Security Income.

SSI is a needs-based program; it is for people with limited income and resources who have a qualifying disability. The program requirements for SSI are similar to those for Food Stamps or SNAP benefits.

Both SSDI and SSI are administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and follow the same definition of disability. The SSA uses a 5-Step Sequential Evaluation to determine if someone's disability is severe enough to qualify for benefits.

Both programs use the same application form too, so everyone who applies for disability benefits also applies for SSI and vice versa.

Determining SSDI Eligibility

Who is considered "insured" under SSDI?

As stated above, to qualify for SSDI (to be "insured"), you need to have paid enough into Social Security and recently enough.

You can find out directly from the Social Security Administration (SSA) if you have worked long enough.

SSA determines this with “Work Credits”, aka “Social Security credits”, aka “Quarters of coverage” (QC), aka “Quarters”. They’re called “Quarters” because you can earn up to 4 per year.

Work Credits, or Quarters of Coverage, are based on earnings rather than hours worked. The dollar amount you need to earn changes every year, just to make things extra complicated (actually because of inflation, but it seems more like a mean trick). In 2022 for example, you earned 1 Work Credit for every $1,510 earned, up to 4 credits. You can find this year's dollar amount on the SSA website.

Let’s break down how many Work Credits you need:

A. The Recent Work Test

Per SSA, “The number of credits necessary to meet the recent work test depends on your age. The rules are as follows:”

Before age 24 – You may qualify if you have 6 credits earned in the 3-year period ending when your disability starts.
Age 24 to 31 – In general, you may qualify if you have credit for working half the time between age 21 and the time you become disabled. As a general example, if you become disabled at age 27, you would need 3 years of work (12 credits) out of the past 6 years (between ages 21 and 27).
Age 31 or older – In general, you must have at least 20 credits in the 10-year period immediately before you become disabled.

B. The Duration Work Test

This is how they determine if you’ve paid enough into Social Security to qualify as insured. You need to have acquired at least this many Work Credits total, regardless of timing.

Age you become disabled:	You will generally need to have worked:	Equivalent Work Credits:
Before age 42	Meet The Recent Work Test (see “A.” above)
Age 44	5.5 years	22
Age 46	6 years	24
Age 48	6.5 years	26
Age 50	7 years	28
Age 52	7.5 years	30
Age 54	8 years	32
Age 56	8.5 years	34
Age 58	9 years	36
Age 60	9.5 years	38

Data from Social Security Administration, Retirement Benefits, https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/credits.html²

Determining Disability

Social Security defines disability with these 5 questions. Also known as the 5-Step Sequential Evaluation, SSA uses this to determine disability for both SSDI and SSI.

1. Are you working?

2. Is your condition “severe”?

Per the SSA, “Your condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work-related activities, such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting, or remembering – for at least 12 months. If it does not, we will find that you are not disabled.”¹ Note: this rule does not mean you have to wait 12 months to file, rather your condition just needs to be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?

Here is the SSA’s list of medical conditions that they “consider severe enough that it prevents a person from doing substantial gainful activity”¹. We go more in depth into the most common disabling conditions here. You can absolutely still qualify if your condition is not on this list, but it can be more difficult to prove your case. We recommend having a lawyer with experience winning these kinds of cases; contact us for a free consultation.

4. Can you do the work you did previously?

5. Can you do any other type of work?