Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program designed to provide benefits to individuals who cannot work as the result of a disability. Studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 30% chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age. Depending on your year of birth, your retirement age could range from 65 to 67.
SSDI eligibility is not based on income. In order to be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must have paid Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes for 5 out of 10 years before you became disabled. You must also have a disability severe enough to meet Social Security's definition.
Under Social Security, "disability" is based on your inability to work. You are considered disabled under Social Security guidelines if:
• You cannot do work that you previously did;
• Social Security decides that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); and
• Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or may result in death.
Some of the more common diagnoses that may fall under disability guidelines include:
• AIDS
• Asthma
• ALS
• Blindness and vision loss
• Cancer (breast, colon, etc)
• Degenerative disc disease
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Fibromyalgia
• Heart disease
• Hepatitis C
• Herniated discs
• Leukemia
• Lupus
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson's
• Rheumatoid arthritis
This list is not exhaustive. For more information about SSDI, contact us today!
Click here for more information on living with disabilities.