When can I receive disability insurance benefits?
If you have a disability that prevents you from working for at least one year or is expected to result in death and you are under full retirement age, you may be eligible for disability insurance benefits. You may apply for benefits as soon as you are disabled. However, benefits do not begin until you have been disabled for at least 5 months. You must also have worked long enough and recently enough to qualify for Social Security benefits. If you are not eligible for Social Security benefits, you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
To be considered disabled by Social Security, your impairments must interfere with your ability to work on a regular and continuing basis. If you cannot do the work you have done in the past, Social Security will consider whether you could perform other work, taking into account your age, education, past work experience, and any work skills.
What do I do if my application for disability benefits is denied?
Social Security provides an appeals process to appeal unfavorable determinations and decisions.
How long do disability benefits continue?
Your benefits will continue as long as you are disabled. However, your case may be reviewed to determine if you are still disabled. If medical improvement of your condition is possible, your case may be reviewed periodically. Benefits may stop if you return to work and regularly earn more than $1,010 per month -- $1,690 per month if you are blind.
Can I try to go back to work without losing benefits?
You may attempt to go back to work on a trial basis - called a Trial Work Period (TWP). Your Social Security insurance benefits continue during a nine month trial period. In 2012, if your earnings average less than $720 a month, your benefits generally would continue indefinitely. If your earnings average more than $720 a month, this is considered an indication of your ability to work.
When does Medicare coverage start?
You usually qualify for Medicare when you turn age 65. If you receive disability insurance benefits, you will be eligible for Medicare after you have been found disabled for 2 years. Those who are disabled may also be eligible for health care under the Medicaid program with no waiting period. If you are not disabled, but take early retirement benefits before full retirement age, you will not be eligible for Medicare until you reach 65.
Do my assets and income affect my ability to get and keep SSDI?
NO -- if you are 100% sure that what you have is Social Security Disability and not SSI, and the income is not from working, your income and assets have no effect on your benefit.
