Does My Age Affect SSDI Eligibility?

Were you recently diagnosed with a medical condition that involves a significant disability? Or were you recently injured in an incident that has resulted in a long-term need for recovery and rehabilitation, coupled with the inability to return to work? In either situation, you may be wondering about your eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, and trying to determine what evidence you will need in order to be approved for payments. One question you might have is about age and how it can impact your eligibility. If you were nearing the age of retirement, for example, can you still obtain SSDI benefits? Or, if you only started working on a full-time basis recently, can you be eligible for SSDI payments?

In most circumstances, your age will not affect your SSDI eligibility. Our national disability benefits lawyers can explain in more detail.

Must Be an Adult

 While an applicant’s specific age does not generally impact their eligibility for SSDI benefits, it is important to be aware that SSDI benefits are only for adults aged 18 and older. Accordingly, a minor who becomes disabled will not be eligible for SSDI benefits. Children under the age of 18 may, however, qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits on the basis of their disability.

Two Requirements for SSDI Eligibility: Medical Condition and Work History 

Presuming you are at least 18 years old, there are two requirements for SSDI eligibility:

• 1) You must have a disabling medical condition that is expected either to last for at least one year or to result in your death, and it must prevent you from engaging in what the Social Security Administration (SSA) deems “substantial gainful activity,” or the ability to earn a living, essentially; and
• 2) You must have worked in a job or jobs covered by Social Security and you must have worked recently enough and earned enough work credits to qualify (the latter of which typically requires 40 credits, with 20 of those credits earned during the last 10 years prior to the disability, with a maximum of 4 credits earned per year).

You might be looking at that second requirement and wondering if a younger disabled worker could actually qualify for SSDI. The SSA amends the work requirement for younger workers, and sets the required work credits like this:

• Workers under the age of 24: Must have 6 credits that were earned in the three-year period prior to the disability;
• Workers between 24 and 31: Must have credits for working half time from the age of 21 up until your disability started; and
• Workers aged 31 and up: Must have 20 credits in the 10-year period prior to the disability.

If you have any questions about the number of work credits you need, and the period within which you must have earned them, a lawyer can help.

Full Retirement Age and the Conversion of SSDI Benefits to Regular Social Security Payments 

The only other age-related consideration is this: once you reach your full age of retirement according to the SSA (which depends on your birth year), any SSDI benefits will convert to regular Social Security payments.

Contact a National Disability Benefits Attorney Today 

Do you have questions or need assistance seeking SSDI benefits? One of the experienced national SSDI benefits lawyers at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz can begin working with you today. Contact us to get started.

Source:

ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html