Connect with Top Lawyers to Navigate Your Disability Benefits Application Process

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI or SSD) is a federal program that helps support individuals who become disabled and cannot work. If eligible, recipients receive a monthly income and health care coverage. The program is run by the Social Security Administration and funded by FICA payroll taxes paid by workers and employers.

SSDI benefits are paid to disabled individuals; in some cases, eligible family members may also receive benefits. Unlike some programs, SSDI does not depend on financial need but rather on meeting specific qualifications:

No specific waiting period is recommended after becoming disabled before filing for Social Security disability. The Social Security Administration encourages individuals to file for disability benefits as soon as possible after they become disabled. The application process can be lengthy, and it may take some time to receive a decision on the claim. Waiting too long to file can result in the loss of potential benefits.

To determine disability, the Social Security Administration uses a Five-Step Evaluation process. The first step is to determine if the applicant is working. The second step is determining if the applicant's condition is 'severe.' The third step is determining if the applicant's condition is found on the list of disabling conditions. The fourth step is to determine if the applicant can do the work they did previously. The fifth and final step is determining if the applicant can do any other type of work. If the applicant meets all the steps, they may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits.

Although several factors are involved, such as the amount you paid into Social Security and your earnings history, the national average monthly benefit for disability benefits is around $1,200. Remember that this is just an average, and the amount you receive may be higher or lower, depending on your circumstances.