William P. Knight, Jr.
Phone: 307-333-7443
https://knightdisability.com/
Wyoming’s Social Security lawyer
You shouldn’t feel alone in this process, we can help
What Is SSDI?
It is very important for you to have some understanding of and the purpose of SSDI.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) handles two disability programs, which offer benefits on a monthly basis to disabled persons who are unable to work anymore. The two are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Although they share a few similar eligibility requirements, they both are different programs. SSDI is intended specifically for persons who worked for a specific number of years but are no longer able to work because they experienced some type physical, or mental disability.
What Are the Required Number of Years?
For you to qualify for SSDI you would have had to work jobs that make deductions from your salary towards payments to Social Security. This means that the jobs you worked at, would have deducted a specific amount of money as taxes to the SSA through jobs covered by Social Security.
Contributions are calculated in “work credits.” You will need no less than four work credits per year to qualify. The number of deductions need for work credit vary each year but once the specific number is reached for that year in salary or in income derived from self-employment, you would have earned one work credit.
Age plays an important role in the number of credits you need to be eligible for SSDI. Furthermore, the requirement of the SSA is that you would have earned some of these credits over a ten-year period before you became incapacitated. Basically, you need a total of 40 credits but 20 should have been earned during the last 10 years before your disability. Yet still, younger workers can qualify but with fewer credits.
Criteria for Disability Benefits
Additionally, to qualify for SSDI you also need to satisfy the federal government precise definition of ‘disability.’ You will only be considered ‘disabled’ and probably eligible for benefits by the SSA:
- If you are unable to do the job you worked before.
- If your medical condition prevents you from doing other types of work, you are qualified to do.
- If your incapacity will last beyond or has lasted for a year or will cause death.
Many people believe that eligibility for SSDI is based only on their specific condition, but this is not true because eligibility is primarily work based. This means that the SSA’s decision to grant or deny your application is based on your capability to work. For example, if you are experiencing severe back pain, but you can still do your job and make some money, the SSA will not consider you for disability benefits.
