In the US you have to have worked to qualify for Disability

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In the US you pay Social Security taxes on your income. Part of that tax is Disability Insurance. You have to have worked so many calendar quarters and earned so much money to qualify for SSDI, or Social Security Disability Income. FYI

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There’s also SSI, Supplemental Security Income for those that haven’t worked, but I think it’s usually like $500 to $800 a month. I don’t know much about it though because I was qualified for Disability.

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I get SSDI and I worked most of my adult life. Your right you half to have a certain amount of time working to qualify for SSDI.

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Thanks Nate. I worked a good paying job when I was 19, maybe for ten to twelve years. Then I worked 32 hours a week in my aunt-in-law’s convenience store for minimum wage after I came down with SzA. She knew I couldn’t deal with people very well, so she just had me cleaning, stocking, ordering merchandise, accepting deliveries, ECT. She would let me take time off because of my SzA when I needed to.

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I wish more people realized that SSDI isn’t a hand out. I started work as soon as it was legal. My former friend was all worried about “his” tax dollars so I told him it’s the government’s money and they can do what they please with it.

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I had a weekend job when I was 14, but in my state 14 year olds can only work restricted hours. When I was a teenager, you could drop out of school and work unlimited hours at 16. Now you have to stay in school until you are 18. I graduated high school and went to college a year, but dropped out and went to work full-time.

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I was paid under the table for a dish washing job when I was 12 also a weekend job. It paid for the video games.

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Yeah, I’ve heard of those, but I never worked under the table except for delivering newspapers when maybe 12. I really don’t remember how old I was with the paper route. I know I was 14 though because that was the legal age to work for wages.

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I paid into the system for many years.
I worked in the Education field for decades until I could no longer work.

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I haven’t worked and i get only 315 euros

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Thanks @Vertigo @Om_Sadasiva

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What if you go back to work after receiving SSDI and get back on SSDI can it increase your benefit amount? Also I heard your work credits could expire

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That I don’t really know. Thanks for responding. Sorry I couldn’t help.

Going back to work, I think you would have to demonstrate that you are disabled again and unable to work to get back on SSDI.

I tried volunteering one day a week before Covid19, and I could just barely handle one day a week.

I also forgot to mention they check every two years or so to see if you are still unable to work.

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I documented that I was disabled before age 22. Therefore, I get Social Security equal to a portion of the amount he would get if he were alive.

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Well, I’m not an expert on it. I’m just repeating what the automated thing tells you on the phone if you ask how do you qualify for Disability Benefits. A lawyer handled my disability claim, so I don’t really know. He came to see me when I was in the psychiatric hospital.

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Check here for info:

https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/QC.html

Click on the blue “insured” link in the text.

I saw exceptions apply if you are under 31, and other useful info.

It’s probably best to call and talk to a Social Security agent. Google phone number for social security.

You may also want to check with a disability lawyer. They will do a claim for you. Their fee is a percentage of your back pay. The lawyer I used it was 33%.

You also should request a “Social Security Statement”. It show your earnings for your lifetime, and gives you an estimate of your benefits. You can call Social Security and request one.

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Well, while looking for the information above, I found the paperwork from my last eligibility review. It was in 2018, so I’m getting due for another one.

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For me, I only had the one eligibility review . . . For me, it was just a formality.

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Thanks Jayster.

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For me, I was on State of Connecticut Welfare while waiting for the disability to be settled. For me, the State of Connecticut was getting the entire back pay, Therefore it wouldn’t have hurt me any to get a lawyer. But I sailed through with a legal assistant for whom I paid $2.

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