Social Security
Disability Insurance
(SSDI) Eligibility
Criteria
To qualify for SSDI,
an individual must
meet the disability
guidelines,
primarily the
inability to work at
a substantial level
(which means the
inability to earn
Substantial Gainful
Activity (SGA).
In 2012, SGA is $1010
per month (non-blind) and $1690 (blind).
Additionally, the
disability must have
lasted or be
expected to last for
at least a year (12
months) or result in
death.
The Social Security
Administration also
has a process to
determine the
disability. This
process includes
five basic
questions:
1. Is the individual
working?
2. Is the
individual’s
condition severe?
3. Is the
individual’s
condition severe
enough to meet
Social Security’s “listing
of impairments”?
4. Can the
individual do the
work s/he did
previously?
5. Can the
individual do any
other type of work?
Once the above
questions are
answered, the Social
Security
Administration will
forward the claim to
Indiana’s
Disability
Determination
Service Bureau
to review medical
information and
other information
submitted. There is
a five month waiting
period from the date
that Social Security
determines the
disability began
until an individual
is determined
eligible for
benefits.
Indiana Family and
Social Services -
Disability
Determination Bureau
Childhood Disability
Benefits (CDB)
An adult may qualify
for Social Security
Disability Insurance
benefits as a
Childhood Disability
Beneficiary (CDB)
through their
parent's
contributions to
FICA. To
qualify for CDB
benefits, the
individual must be
disabled before the
age of 22 (meet
Social Security’s
criteria for
disability) and
his/her parents must
be either disabled,
retired, or deceased
and have contributed
into the Social
Security Trust fund
through FICA taxes.
