NOT EVERYONE IS COVERED BY SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
The Social Security disability program is known by various names: SSDI, Title 2, federal disability or simply Social Security disability. It is not the same as SSI, Supplemental Security Income, also administered by the Social Security Administration. (SSI is also referred to as Title XVI).
Since SSDI taxes are mandatory for all workers, most people assume that everyone is covered by Social Security disability insurance. This is not the case.
To be covered, a person must have completed the minimum quarters of covered work. The required number of quarters vary with the worker's age. The general requirement is that out of the most recent 20 quarters (a quarter is 3 months), the individual must have worked at least 10 of those quarters. Another way to say it: Out of the past 10 years, the individual must have worked at least 5 years. This is a general rule, not an exact rule. Very young workers may not need to have worked 5 years to be covered.
To count as one quarter of coverage, a worker must have earned at least $1,220 during the quarter. So very part-time work with low earnings may not count as a "quarter of coverage." The amount of earnings required to count as "one quarter" changes almost every year.
When an individual stops working, he or she stops paying FICA tax, which is the "premium" used to keep Social Security disability insurance in force. The individual doesn't stop being covered immediately, but generally will stop being covered about 4 years after he stops working. Once the person is no longer covered by Title 2 insurance, a new claim cannot be filed unless the individual can prove that he or she became disabled prior to the end of coverage.
SSI, Supplemental Security income, is a totally different program that does not require any work history or quarters of coverage. It is often confused with SSDI - but is a very different program. SSI is "need based," meaning that an applicant must have limited income and resources to qualify for SSI. This is not true with Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Title 2.
Since SSDI taxes are mandatory for all workers, most people assume that everyone is covered by Social Security disability insurance. This is not the case.
To be covered, a person must have completed the minimum quarters of covered work. The required number of quarters vary with the worker's age. The general requirement is that out of the most recent 20 quarters (a quarter is 3 months), the individual must have worked at least 10 of those quarters. Another way to say it: Out of the past 10 years, the individual must have worked at least 5 years. This is a general rule, not an exact rule. Very young workers may not need to have worked 5 years to be covered.
To count as one quarter of coverage, a worker must have earned at least $1,220 during the quarter. So very part-time work with low earnings may not count as a "quarter of coverage." The amount of earnings required to count as "one quarter" changes almost every year.
When an individual stops working, he or she stops paying FICA tax, which is the "premium" used to keep Social Security disability insurance in force. The individual doesn't stop being covered immediately, but generally will stop being covered about 4 years after he stops working. Once the person is no longer covered by Title 2 insurance, a new claim cannot be filed unless the individual can prove that he or she became disabled prior to the end of coverage.
SSI, Supplemental Security income, is a totally different program that does not require any work history or quarters of coverage. It is often confused with SSDI - but is a very different program. SSI is "need based," meaning that an applicant must have limited income and resources to qualify for SSI. This is not true with Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Title 2.
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