WHY EVERYONE IS NOT COVERED BY SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY

Social Security disability (SSDI) was started in 1954 to cover workers who became disabled.  It is a government sponsored disability insurance plan paid for by payroll deductions.  Therefore, only persons who have worked are covered by SSDI.

When an individual stops working, he stops paying into the Social Security program.  Usually, he or she remains an "insured person" for about 5 years after stopping work.  Then, he is no longer an "insured person" and is not eligible to apply for a new disability.

Social Security requires that you have a minimum number of "quarters of coverage" to be covered.  A worker earns a quarter of coverage for each 3 month period when he earned at least $1,320 during the quarter (this is the 2017 amount).   

Here is a general rule of thumb for most workers:  You must have worked at least 5 years out of the most recent 10 year period to be covered.  Very young workers will need less work to be covered.

People are often confused when we call Social Security disability "insurance."  But that's exactly what it is.  Not everyone is covered--only those who worked and paid a sufficient amount of FICA tax into the Social Security trust fund.  This is equivalent to paying premiums on your auto or homeowners insurance.  If you don't pay premiums, you have no coverage.  The same is true with Social Security.

Before you file a disability claim, you can find out  if you have enough work credits to be covered.  You do this simply by calling a Social Security office.  Ask them for your "Date Last Insured" or DLI.  This is the date on which your Social Security disability coverage will expire (or has already expired, perhaps).

EXAMPLE:  What if my Date Last Insured (DLI) was 12/31/16?  You are still entitled to file one disability claim AFTER 12/31/16.  However, you must prove that your disability began before the DLI--that is-- before 12/31/16.  If your disability began after that date, you are not insured and cannot file a claim on the expired insurance.  The older the DLI, the more difficult it becomes to qualify, largely because it becomes increasing more difficult to get older medical evidence to prove the onset of disability.  

Final Note:  Your Date Last Insured has absolutely nothing to do with your medical or health insurance.  The DLI is unique to Social Security.  It is a date used only by Social Security and refers only to your insured status at the Social Security Administration.

THE FORSYTHE FIRM: SOCIAL SECURITY JUSTICE

Call the Forsythe Firm (256) 799-0297