Dealing with disability
is hard.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program in the United States that provides monthly benefits to people who have a disability that prevents them from working. It's funded by payroll taxes. Social Security pays benefits to people who can't work because they have a medical condition expected to last at least one year or result in death.

Certain family members may also be eligible based on your work history, including:

• Your spouse, if age 62 or older
• Your spouse at any age, if caring for your child under 16 or who is disabled
• Your unmarried child under age 18 (or 19 if still in high school)
• Your unmarried child age 18+, if disabled before age 22

While both programs provide benefits to people with disabilities, SSI is needs-based and funded by general tax revenues, while SSDI is based on work history and funded by payroll taxes. You must have worked long enough and recently enough — and paid Social Security taxes — to qualify for SSDI.

Not everyone receives the same amount. Your monthly benefit depends on how long you worked and your average lifetime earnings during that time. The Social Security Administration calculates your benefit using your earnings record. The average SSDI benefit is approximately $1,500/month, though amounts vary significantly.

The SSDI program pays monthly benefits to a disabled person and certain family members if that person worked long enough and recently enough and paid Social Security taxes on those earnings.

Generally, you need 40 work credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year your disability begins. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits. The number of credits needed depends on your age when your disability begins.

The SSA maintains a "Blue Book" listing hundreds of qualifying impairments. Common conditions include musculoskeletal disorders (back pain, arthritis), cardiovascular conditions, mental health disorders (depression, PTSD), neurological disorders, cancer, respiratory illnesses, and many more. Even if your condition isn't listed, you may still qualify if it's severe enough to prevent substantial work.

The initial application typically takes 3–6 months for a decision. If denied (which happens in about 65% of initial applications), you can appeal. The appeals process can take an additional 1–3 years. Having a licensed advocate or attorney significantly improves your chances of approval and can speed up the process.