Overview

Social Security disability payments are much more difficult to get than Social Security retirement payments. Basically, it is a lot easier to prove that you qualify for Social Security retirement benefits than Social Security disability benefits.

We are not the Social Security Administration. If you need to contact the Social Security Administration about disability issues they can be found at www.ssa.gov.

Social Security Disability Requirements

A worker is entitled to Social Security disability benefits if he or she:

1. Is insured for Social Security disability benefits,
2. Is under 65 years old,
3. Has been disabled for 12 months or is expected to be disabled for at least 12 months,
4. Has filed the application for Social Security disability benefits, and
5. Has gone beyond a 5 month waiting period or is exempt from this requirement.

Most of the time, the biggest hurdle is step 3, proving that you are disabled. You must be able to prove that there is an inability to engage in an substantial gainful activity because of an medically determinable physical or mental impairment.