Social Security Disability Insurance: Determine Your Eligibility

Wondering if you can qualify for the Social Security Administration provided Social Security Disability Insurance? Use their five step preliminary questionnaire process to pre-screen your eligibility.

This five step process is:

The first question an application should ask themselves is: Are you working right now?

If you are, you will usually not meet the disability requirements.

The second question is: Is your condition severe enough to interfere with basic work activities?

If you answer yes, you are likely eligible to receive benefits.

The third question: Is your condition on the Social Security Administration list of medical conditions or is it equal in severity to these conditions? (Will it continue for more than a year or is it fatal?)

Seek a yes to qualify.

The fourth question to ask is: Can you do the work you previously did when you were employed (which should be for at least five of the last ten years)?

If you can still work, you probably don't meet the disability requirements.

The fifth question to ask is: Can you now do any kind of work?

Being able to work usually means you do not meet the disability requirements.

Social Security Disability Insurance benefits eligibility disability requirements are based on your ability to work.

You are "insured" for SSDI benefits through the payroll FICA taxes you paid during employment.

The Social Security Administration asks applicants use the five questions to determine their own eligibility before applying. Special situations exist, including blindness and low vision, widows and widowers, children, and wounded warriors. Contact your local Social Security Administration office to learn more regarding those special instances as well as the instances that affect the continuing of your eligibility for benefits.

Benefits can be discontinued in certain situations. If your income becomes an average of $940 a month or more, it is considered substantial and your SSDI terminates. If your medical condition improves, and it is substantial enough that you no longer meet the definition of disability, then your monthly benefits will also be canceled.

It is of the utmost importance to stay current with the Social Security Administration to prevent problems with your SSDI. Any change in employment, income, or contact information should be reported to your Social Security Administration local office.

If you would like to receive Social Security Disability Insurance from the Social Security Administration, it as always a good idea to contact your local office. Questions and concerns should always be brought to their office.