Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits
U.S. Social Security Administration
What is Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits?
Social Security's Disability Insurance Benefits are federally funded and administered by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Social Security pays disability benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have worked long enough and have a medical condition that prevents you from working for at least 12 months or is expected to end in death. Studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 1-in-4 chance of becoming disabled before reaching full retirement age.
Administration
Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits is administered by U.S. Social Security Administration.
Program Requirements
To be eligible for disability benefits, you must:
- Be unable to work because you have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death.
- Not have a partial or short-term disability.
- Meet SSA’sdefinition of a disability.
- Be younger than your full retirement age.
If you qualify for disability benefits, certain members of your familymay be eligible to receive benefits based on your work record.
To find out if you may be eligible for Social Security's benefit programs, check out SSA'sBenefit Eligibility Screening Tool.
To find out more about how Social Security decides if you are disabled, visit SSA's Publications Page, select "Disability" under “Topics,” and review Social Security Publication Number 05-10029.
Application Details
What is the application process for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits?
Once you know which benefits you may be eligible for, visit Apply For Social Security Benefits to apply online.