Which of the following is one of the requirements necessary for you to qualify for Social Security disability insurance?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that gives monthly cash benefits to people who have worked, paid Social Security taxes, and now have disabilities that prevent them from working.

SSDI is linked to Medicare. Once you have gotten SSDI benefits for 2 years, you automatically become eligible for Medicare, even if you are under age 65. We’ll discuss the connection between SSDI and Medicare later in this article.

If you worked in the past, but now have a disability that prevents you from working at a job that can pay for your monthly expenses, you should consider applying for SSDI benefits. Once you apply, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will look at your case.

You will have to meet these 2 basic requirements to qualify for SSDI benefits:

  1. You must be insured. SSA will look at your work history and see if you have worked long enough to be covered by SSDI. Because it's an insurance program, you do not have to prove financial need to qualify for SSDI. This is an important distinction between SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
  2. SSA must decide that you are disabled. They will look at 5 different criteria and if you meet all 5, SSA will decide that you are disabled.

You must meet both of these requirements to get SSDI benefits; if you only meet one of them, you will not qualify for SSDI benefits. How SSA decides if you are insured and are disabled is described later in this article.

Exceptions to these requirements

There are a few cases where you may qualify for benefits even if you have not worked long enough to be covered by SSDI or if you are not disabled:

  • If you have not worked because of a disability that you acquired before you turned 22, you may qualify for Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB). CDB is described in greater detail later in this article.
  • If you are under the age of 19, you may qualify if your parent gets Social Security retirement or disability insurance benefits or is deceased. You do not need a disability to get this benefit. To learn more about these Child’s Benefits, read DB101’s article about Benefits for Young People.
  • If your spouse or ex-spouse qualifies for SSDI benefits or Social Security retirement benefits, or qualified before dying, you may be able to get these benefits as well. If you are in this situation, talk to a benefits planner.

Application

You can apply for SSDI benefits:

  • Online (which starts the application process immediately instead of having to wait for an appointment)
  • By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) to make an appointment to apply either:
    • Over the phone
    • In person at your local Social Security office.

Note: Due to COVID-19, there may be limits on in-person services. Contact your agency by phone to ask about this.

You may need to give the following when you apply:

  • Names, addresses, and phone numbers of all doctors, hospitals, and clinics that have supplied you with medical treatment and the dates of treatment
  • Names of any medications you are taking
  • Copies of any medical records you have
  • Your Social Security Number and the Social Security Numbers of your spouse and any children under the age of 18
  • A certified copy of your birth certificate
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency, if you were born in another country
  • A certified copy of your military discharge papers (Form DD 214), if you were in the military
    • Tip: If you are a veteran, be sure to let Social Security know. Social Security may review your application faster.
  • Your most recent W-2 Form or if you’re self-employed, your most recent tax return
  • Information on any workers’ compensation you get or have gotten
  • A summary of all your jobs during the past 15 years (names of jobs and dates of employment)

Social Security provides a detailed checklist of the information you need to complete the application process.

SSA will decide if you are insured and if you are disabled. If you are both insured and disabled, you may qualify for SSDI.

Learn more

Social Security Disability (SSD or Title II) benefits are available to people who have enough work credits prior to becoming disabled.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI or Title XVI) benefits are available to people who are disabled but who also meet the income and resource limits to qualify.

Depending on your circumstance, you may qualify for one or both benefits.

The application process involves the filing of forms that provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) with information about your work and medical history.

It is important for applications to be accurate and complete so that a proper determination can be made on your claim.

That’s why having the assistance of a qualified attorney can be an invaluable form of assistance for those pursuing disability benefits.

THE ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS

A convenient option if you have access to the Internet is to begin the application process online.

The SSA website allows you to start the disability application process by providing basic personal information.

However, it is important to remember that medical records and other proof of eligibility status will need to be provided to and/or obtained by the SSA before an application is considered complete.

Applying online is simply a convenient starting point for the entire process. The only place to file your application online is www.SSA.gov.

Let me offer a warning – there are many sites that appear official but are not associated with the Social Security Administration.

These sites will have you believe you are submitting an application for disability benefits to SSA, but you are really giving your personal information to a third party who will then attempt to have you sign a contract with them to represent you.

Please be sure that you know the difference and are making an informed choice. The only sites directly administered by the Social Security Administration are www.ssa.gov and www.socialsecurity.gov.

Please note that SSI or Title XVI applications are not accepted over the internet at this time, and you must make this application directly with your local office.

VISITING OR CALLING YOUR LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE TO APPLY

While applying online is convenient, another method to complete the entire application process is by visiting your local social security office.

The closest social security office can be contacted by phone in order for an initial interview to be scheduled.

In-person and phone interviews are available at many offices.

You can find out your local SSA office and its contact information by using the SSA’s Find An Office Tool.

In-person interviews allow SSA employees to ask questions that help them determine whether an applicant is eligible for benefits.

While an employee can identify basic qualification criteria (i.e., do you have enough work credits for SSD or meet the income/resource requirements for SSI), the ultimate decision related to your disability application is based upon a review of all evidence of your disability.

You should note, however, that the employee taking your application will also make observations about your appearance, as well as your ability to answer questions and complete the interview. These observations will be made a part of the claim file.

Phone interviews also give SSA employees a chance to determine which forms an applicant will need to fill out in order for their application to be considered complete.

These forms are then mailed to the applicant for completion.

While this makes it easy for applicants to understand what forms are necessary, the forms themselves often seek important information in less than clear terms.

Here are some specific forms that must be filled out by every disability benefit applicant. These forms are used to evaluate the eligibility of each individual applicant.

Form SSA-3368-BK: Adult Disability Report – you provide all of the relevant information concerning your medical conditions, medical doctors and treatment, medications, how your daily activities are affected by your disability, your educational background, and other information.

Form SSA-3369-BK: Work History Report – you provide specific information on your jobs and what type of function was required of you in each job. This is used in determining what your past relevant work experience is, whether you can perform your past relevant work with your disability, and to determine what transferable skills, if any, you may have.

Form SSA-3373-BK: Adult Function Report – you provide specific information about how your medical condition affects your ability to perform tasks and function.

Form SSA-827-BK: Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration – you must sign and return this form so that SSA can obtain your medical records which are used to determine the extent of your disability.

Applying for SSD and/or SSI benefits can be done through the mail, online, or at a Social Security office. Forms that must be filled out during the application process should be current and complete in order for the SSA to consider approval. Help with this process can be obtained from an experienced SSD attorney.

CONTACT A LOUISIANA SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY FILING ATTORNEY

If you are considered filing for Social Security disability benefits, the assistance of a qualified legal professional can dramatically simplify the process and improve your chances of securing the benefits you need.

Contact Louisiana attorney Loyd J. Bourgeois by calling 985-240-9773 today to learn more about what your legal rights and options may be and begin the application process.

Our firm will take away the burden and anxiety of completing and turning in your SSDI application and related disability forms.

When you hire us, all forms are submitted to our office and are gone over with you to make sure there is a clear understanding of your disability and limitations before we submit them to Social Security.

You will never have to submit anything or deal with Social Security by yourself.

What are the three factors essential for social security?

But the Social Security program itself also has three important components: retirement, disability benefits, and survivors' benefits.

What does Social Security require?

To be eligible for most types of benefits (such as benefits based on blindness or retirement), you must have earned an average of one work credit for each calendar year between age 21 and the year in which you reach age 62 or become disabled or blind, up to a maximum of 40 credits.