Latest News
Social Security Disability: Eligibility Criteria - Investor Times
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program which protects workers from loss of income if they become unable to perform “substantial gainful activity” (SGA). Obviously, there are specific medical requirements associated with the SSDI program, but a worker who becomes disabled and is expected to remain so for at least one year is eligible to apply for benefits. However, in addition to being medically eligible, there are a number of non-medical criteria which must be met to be eligible for SSDI, among them a recent work history, a minimum number of earned Social Security “credits,” and an age limitation. This Investor Times outlines the various non-medical criteria to be eligible for SSDI benefits and also provides a Q&A for commonly asked questions, but there is one point in the article which requires clarification. The article states you cannot get SSDI benefits after age 65 and, although this is a common belief, it is no longer true. SSDI benefits are not available to anyone who has reached their SS full retirement age (FRA), but FRA is somewhere between age 66 and 67 depending on your year of birth. Thus note in this article that, for non-medical requirement #3 and common question #7, the correct age at which you can no longer apply for SSDI benefit is your full retirement age, not age 65. Aside from these points, the article is completely accurate in describing the non-medical requirements for SSDI eligibility so is valuable information for those who contemplate applying for SSDI. Click here to read the Investor Times article about Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
Also, if you’re unsure about how these basics apply to you, or if you have any questions about your individual situation under Social Security, note that the AMAC Foundation provides a free-to-the-public advisory service to help Americans navigate the complexities of this program. Learn more about it here…