If you have been diagnosed with a physical and/or mental condition and it’s preventing you from working in any capacity, you may be wondering if you qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
My name is Kaitlin Wildoner and I’m an attorney who helps disabled clients obtain their disability benefits as quickly as possible so they can focus on getting better.
Today we’re going to discuss one of the most commonly asked questions which is, am I eligible for SSDI benefits. The first thing is that it is important to understand what Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is. It’s a federal program that provides financial support to individuals who are unable to work due to a disability. To be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must have worked and earned enough work credits to qualify for benefits. The number of work credits that you must have earned in order to qualify depends on your age at the time you became disabled. You must also have a medical condition that meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability.
The Social Security Administration may consider you to be disabled if you are unable to perform any substantial gainful activity due to a medically determinable impairment that has either lasted (or is expected to last) at least 12 months or end in death. Your disability must be severe enough that it prevents you from performing any work that you have done before and from adjusting to any other work that exists in the national economy.
The Social Security Administration also has a list of medical conditions that are automatically considered to meet the definition of disability, known as the Blue Book of Listings. If your condition is not on the list, then the Social Security Administration will evaluate your medical records and determine if you may meet the disability requirements through other means.
Additionally, if you have been diagnosed with a certain condition and you are currently working and earning more than a certain amount per month, you will not be eligible for SSDI benefits. For example, in 2024 you cannot earn more than $1,550 per month in gross earnings and qualify for SSDI benefits.
Finally, to be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must be under full retirement age. Full retirement age tends to be between 66 and 67, depending on your birth year.
To sum it up, in order to be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must have earned enough work credits, have a medical condition that meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability, and be under full retirement age.
Thanks so much for watching. If you’re disabled and unable to work, click the scheduling link here or give us a call directly for a free consultation where we discuss your case and see what I can do to help you.
