Filing a Claim for Social Security Administration Disability Benefits

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has multiple programs that disabled individuals may be eligible to receive when applying for benefits.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits: These benefits are based upon the Social Security Taxes withheld from worker's paychecks over the period of time they were employed before becoming disabled. To be eligible, the disabled individual must have essentially worked full-time at least a minimum wage job (or more) through five (5) out of the last ten (10) years to earn required quarterly credits.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits: These benefits are for disabled individuals (or children) that may have not worked full-time for a long enough period, or not worked at all. To be eligible, the disabled individual (or child) must meet the minimum household income limit.

Disabled Widow/Widower Benefits (DWB): To be eligible for DWB benefits, a widow(er) must have attained age 50, but not attained age 60. Monthly benefits to a widow(er) on the basis of disability are not payable for months before the attainment of age 50 even though the impairment may have existed before age 50. If a widow(er) receiving “D” benefits, i.e., benefits paid to widows(er)s age 60 and older, becomes disabled after attaining age 60 and is still within the prescribed period, he or she may file a DWB claim for Medicare entitlement purposes.

Currently not all benefit programs are available for application through SSA's website. To be sure that you are applying for the benefits that you are eligible to receive please contact your local SSA Field office at: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to apply by phone.

Attorney Brent Klender has been representing Disabled Individuals for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for over 20 years.