Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Monthly benefits for people under full retirement age who worked long enough and recently enough and have a medical condition expected to last at least a year or result in death; Medicare begins after 24 months of SSDI.
A directory listing, not an eligibility decision.
UniHealth can identify a possible match, but the responsible program makes the final decision.
What to know
- Why it may fit
- Your circumstances can be checked against the program’s published guidelines.
- What to do next
- Monthly payments from Social Security when a health problem keeps you from working. It must be expected to last a year or more. Medicare follows after 24 months.
- Who runs it
- Social Security Administration
What the program may consider
- A medical condition expected to last at least a year or result in death
- You worked long enough and recently enough under Social Security
- Earnings below the 2026 substantial gainful activity amount
- You are under full retirement age (retirement benefits replace SSDI after that)
- Social Security and the state disability determination service decide
How to get it
Monthly payments from Social Security when a health problem keeps you from working. It must be expected to last a year or more. Medicare follows after 24 months.
How to apply
Social Security disability application
The application includes a report about your health and work, and a medical release. You can ask for SSI at the same time.
- OnlineSocial Security website
- PhoneSocial Security: 1-800-772-1213TTY 1-800-325-0778
- In personYour local Social Security officeUse the office finder for the address and hours.
Getting help
Someone can apply for you
A helper can fill out the forms and your health history with you. You sign the application and the medical release yourself, unless you are not able to. A registered person you name on form SSA-1696 can act on your claim.
A helper can fill it out, but you still sign: ask for Claimant's Appointment of a Representative (SSA-1696).
What happens after you apply
Apply online, by phone, or at an office. You fill out a report about your health, doctors, medicines, and past jobs.
Social SecurityA helper can help with this
You sign form SSA-827. It lets doctors and hospitals send your records to Social Security.
YouOnly you can do this
Social Security checks your work history and other facts. It may ask for more papers.
Social SecurityA helper can help with this
A state disability office gets your medical records. It decides if you meet the disability rules.
The stateA helper can help with this
You may be asked to see a doctor for an exam. Social Security pays for it.
Only if more medical proof is needed
Your doctor or clinicianOnly you can do this
You get a letter that says yes or no. If no, you have 60 days to appeal.
Social Security
Payments start with your sixth full month of disability. People with ALS do not have to wait. Back pay can cover up to 12 months before you applied.
Social SecurityOnly you can do thisFive full months of disability must pass first, unless you have ALS.
After 24 months of disability payments, Medicare starts on its own. People with ALS get Medicare when payments start.
Medicare
What only you can do
- Sign the application yourself, unless you are not able to.
- Sign form SSA-827 so Social Security can get your medical records.
- List your doctors, hospitals, medicines, and past jobs.
- Go to any exam Social Security sets up for you.
- Report work, better health, and other changes quickly.
- How long it takes
- The medical review often takes about 3 to 6 months, and it can take longer. Payments start only after 5 full months of disability.
- You are enrolled when
- You are enrolled when you have an approval letter and your first payment has come.
- To keep it
- Report work and changes in your health. Social Security reviews your health from time to time. It may be in 6 to 18 months, every 3 years, or every 5 to 7 years. At full retirement age, it becomes retirement pay.