Ssdi and fafsa
- Thread starter Badzki01
- Start date
Indeed, before assessing the severity of a disability applicant's medical impairment, the SSA will look at whether the applicant is working and, if so, whether the applicant is earning too much income to be considered disabled.
For SSDI (the disability program for workers who have paid Social Security taxes), the non-medical requirements have to do with whether the claimant has worked the required number of quarters. As such, the applicant has to be eligible for payments from the Social Security trust fund.
For SSI (the low-income, needs-based disability benefit), the non-medical requirements entail that the SSA will look at the applicant's income and assets to see if they are over the limits. In addition, if a non-U.S. citizen is applying for SSI, the SSA will look to see if the applicant is in a qualifying alien category.
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!
Indeed, you are welcome!
In response to your specific additional questions...
Basically, you must pass a recent work test and a duration of work test in order to be insured for SSDI.
In order to be eligible for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI, or SSD), you must have insured status for Social Security. This means you must have worked enough during the years before filing to have contributed a specific amount to the Social Security system (through FICA taxes deducted from your paychecks).
The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines if you have worked enough to qualify for SSD by converting your earnings into work credits. The dollar amount it takes to earn one work credit is calculated annually. In the calendar year 2015, you must earn $1,220 to get one Social Security work credit, or $4,880 to get the maximum four credits for the entire calendar year. Thus, it doesn't matter in which quarter you performed the work. In retrospect before 1978, a credit was equal to having worked for one quarter in which you earned at least $50.
To that extent, it seems that a FAQ is always "how much do you have to pay into Social Security to get disability benefits?" Well, you only need to earn a minimal amount of money to get credit for a calendar year of paying into Social Security. So, the question is really about "how many years do you have to work to be eligible for Social Security disability?"
As such, referencing the below chart, you must have worked the following number of years (or earned the following number of credits) to qualify for SSDI albeit there is an exception to these rules for certain blind applicants.
____
____Referencing the following examples in explanation of the aforementioned chart:
- If you are 31 years or older, then you must have worked at least five of the last 10 years to pass the recent work test. To state it another way, you will need to have earned 20 credits (e.g., one quarter of work equals one credit) in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled
- If you are between 24 years old and 31 years old, then you must have worked at least half the time since turning 21 years old. Lets say that you are 29 years old, then you must have worked at least four years out of the last eight years (or have earned 16 credits in the last eight years)
- If you are under 24 years old, then you must have worked at least one and a half years in the three-year period before disability (or have earned six credits in the last three years)
In short, the SSA disability applicants who are awarded benefits at the initial claim and reconsideration levels will receive a "Notice of Award" that specifically details the amount of their monthly and past due benefit amounts and when they should receive these checks.
However, many SSA disability applicants (as in your particular situation) shall first receive a letter indicating that the applicant has met the medical requirements for disability, and that their claim is being sent back to their local Social Security office to determine whether the applicant is still not "working above the SGA level" and still meets the "nonmedical requirements" of SSDI or SSI.
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!
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Again, you are welcome! Yes, indeed it is; quite common fortunately!
As such, congratulations, you won your Social Security claim for disability benefits at this point in time; the SSDI award letter is definitely forthcoming!
Enjoy life! 
Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"
Best Wishes!
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Thanks. It was quite a battle mentally and physically but the outcome was the award. I was not even thinking about getting approved for first try. I want to thank you and the rest of these members on this site for the tireless effort to help all veterans. Now, my next step is to get my dependents benefits.. Once again, thank you..
Thanks chaplaincharlie.