SSDI Overview

SSDI is the abbreviation for Social Security Disability Insurance and is a US Government federal insurance program which is managed by the Social Security Administration.  SSDI affords an income to those individuals who are unable to work because of mental or physical disabilities.  Technically, SSDI benefits are intended to be provided until a person’s condition improves or in order to guarantee that the individual will have some form of income should their condition be permanent.

The application and determination processes tend to be quite lengthy and can take months before you are approved to receive benefits because SSDI is considered to be a form of “social” insurance program.  In addition to this, the disabled applicant must prove that they are indeed disabled and qualified to receive SSDI benefits.  It should also be noted that applicants should concurrently apply for SSI benefits as well as SSDI benefits just in case they should qualify for those as well.

Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are oftentimes contrasted with SSI (Supplemental Security Income), which is the SSA’s needs-based income benefits program.  It was developed and geared towards those individuals demonstrating a medical disability for both levels of financial and/or resource poverty.  In any event, there are certain steps that you need to take in order to receive the benefits that are due you, and in many instances, the need for hiring a Social Security Disability may become necessary.

There are also a few informal names that SSDI is referred to such as DIB (or Disability Insurance Benefits) and Title II Benefits.  This name stems from the SSA’s chapter name and title for the governing section of the ruling.  There are four qualification criteria for being awarded SSDI benefits as follows:

• based on the date that you were determined as being disabled and unable to hold down a full time job, you worked at 5 years of the prior 10 years
• you are under the age of 65
• you must be afflicted with a mental or physical condition that prevents you from working or attaining any “SGA” (Substantial Gainful Activity)
• your diagnosed disability is expected to last at least a year and may result in your death

In any event, if you feel that you are in a position to apply for SSDI benefits because you are truly disabled, it may behoove you to consult with a Social Security Disability attorney to find out if you could receive these benefits.