In addition to proving that you are disabled medically, you must meet the non-medical eligibility requirements for one of the Social Security Administration's disability programs. To be eligible for the main program, Disability Insurance Benefits, based on your work history, you must meet two requirements: (1) that you are fully insured, and (2) that you are currently insured. Both of these requirements are met by having enough "credits" or "quarters" that are most commonly earned by having payroll taxes withheld from your paychecks. And despite the ambiguity, neither refers to having medical insurance.
To be fully insured, you must have earned enough credits in your lifetime, typically 40 credits (although some younger individuals can qualify with far less on a sliding scale). Prospective clients often tell me that they have been told or the SSA's website says they have enough credits for disability. However, this is usually referring to the fully insured requirement, and only half the equation.
You must also be currently insured. To meet that requirement, you must have 20 credits in a 10-year period, and prove disability back to whatever date you last met that test, referred to as your "date last insured." For many people who have worked solidly in five calendar years before becoming disabled, the date last insured is in the future and does not pose a problem. For others with previous gaps in their employment history or periods of employment where taxes were not withheld on a W2 as a regular employee, there can be current insurance issues that make it harder to prove disability.
Unfortunately, there are common scenarios that prevent people from getting Disability Insurance Benefits through no fault of their own, like stay-at-home mothers who find it difficult to return to work after a significant period of not being compensated for caring for their family. Many of these people can still qualify for one of the other programs offered by the SSA, Supplemental Security Income.
Many people assume they will not have enough recent credits if they have been struggling to keep a job for some time. Many of these people do accumulate enough credits to remain currently insured by regularly attempting work. If you have any questions about filing for disability, including whether you are eligible, don't hesitate to call Keller & Keller for a free evaluation with a knowledgeable analyst at 317-926-1111.
