Social Security Disability Resources

Social Security Disability Benefit Eligibility

There are many factors the Social Security Administration takes into account when determining your eligibility for disability benefits. The main requirement is that you meet their definition of a disability If you have not yet filed your initial claim and are unsure of your eligibility, we recommend visiting the Social Security Administration website and reading about how you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.

Types of Social Security Disability Benefits

There are two types of disability benefits offered through the Social Security Administration. Depending on your situation, you may want to apply for one or the other, or both.  The following is a basic summary and tips for each of the two types.

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance benefits)
  • You must have worked and paid into Social Security long enough to be “insured”. You can find out if you are insured by calling Social Security. If you stop working, your insured status will expire. In this case, you should call Social Security and find out when your “date last insured” or DLI is. This is the date before which you must prove that you became disabled in order to be eligible for SSDI benefits. 
  • Veterans can receive full SSDI and service-connected disability benefits without an offset, provided they are insured for SSDI benefits. 
  • SSDI benefits are usually higher than SSI benefits (explained below). 
  • If you receive SSDI, it does not matter what other resources you have, if you win the lottery, or inherit money. You will continue to receive the full SSDI monthly benefit as long as you meet Social Security’s definition of disability. 
  • There is a waiting period of 5 full months from the date that your disability begins and the date that you can receive your first payment. This means that if Social Security finds you disabled as of February 13, 2021, your monthly benefit will not start until August 2021.
  • You are eligible for Medicare after you have received 24 months of SSDI payments. In the above scenario, you would become eligible for Medicare in August 2023. 
  • You can apply for SSDI benefits online at ssa.gov. 
  • When you apply for SSDI benefits, you have the potential of receiving 12 months of retroactive benefits from your date of application. This means if you apply today, March 1, 2021, you can receive 12 months of disability benefits at your date of application, provided that you meet the definition of disability. This means you could receive benefits from March 2020. However, the 5-month waiting period still applies here, so you would need to show that you were disabled as of October 1, 2019 in order to fulfill the 5-month waiting period and still get the maximum of 12 months retroactive benefits.  This means that when you stop working due to disability, you should apply within 17 months of stopping to work to ensure that you get the maximum benefit that you are entitled to. 
  • If you win your SSDI case, and you are entitled to retroactive benefits or backpay, that money will be calculated and paid to you in a lump sum, all at once. 
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
  • SSI is a resource-based benefit for people who are low income, and have very little or no recent work history. The easiest way to know if you meet these requirements is that they are very similar to the requirements to receive food stamps. If you receive food stamps, you are likely eligible for SSI. 
  • The maximum monthly benefit in 2021 for an SSI recipient is $794. Social Security will reduce this benefit if you receive additional money, free housing, or gifts, or sell something of value. Your benefit can be terminated if you inherit money or property, items of value, win the lottery, or if for any reason your bank account goes above the limit permitted by Social Security. 
  • If you are a Veteran, Social Security will reduce your SSI by any money you receive from the VA in service connected or other benefits. If you are a Veteran receiving SSI and not service connected, or service connected at a low rating, and you served during an official period of war (you didn’t have to serve in the war, you just have to have served at least one day during that period of time) you should apply for Pension through the VA. The criteria is similar to SSI, but the benefit is higher. If you get Pension, your SSI will go away.

How to File an Initial Application for Social Security Disability Benefits

If you have not yet applied for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration, you can file a claim on their website. You will find the link to apply as well as how the application process works. We also recommend viewing their Adult Disability checklist to ensure you have everything you need in order complete your application.

How to Set Up and Manage an Online Account with the Social Security Administration

If you do not already have an online account with the Social Security Administration, you can sign up for one on their website. This will enable you to review your information and apply for Social Security disability benefits all in one place.

Social Security Disability FAQs

State Bar of Arizona LGBTBar Pat Tillman Foundation National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives