Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
Building icon
The .gov means it's official
Federal government websites always use a .gov or .mil domain. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure you’re on a .gov or .mil site by inspecting your browser’s address (or “location”) bar.
Lock icon
This site is also protected by an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate that’s been signed by the U.S. government. The https:// means all transmitted data is encrypted — in other words, any information or browsing history that you provide is transmitted securely.

Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits

undefined Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits?


Social Security's Disability Insurance Benefits are federally funded and administered by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Social Security pays disability benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have worked long enough and have a medical condition that prevents you from working for at least 12 months or is expected to end in death. Studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 1-in-4 chance of becoming disabled before reaching full retirement age.

Social Security's Disability Insurance Benefits are federally funded and administered by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Social Security pays disability benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have worked long enough and have a medical condition that prevents you from working for at least 12 months or is expected to end in death. Studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 1-in-4 chance of becoming disabled before reaching full retirement age.

undefined Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits?


To be eligible for disability benefits, you must:

  • Be unable to work because you have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death.
  • Not have a partial or short-term disability.
  • Meet SSA’s definition of a disability.
  • Be younger than your full retirement age.

If you qualify for disability benefits, certain members of your family may be eligible to receive benefits based on your work record.

To find out if you may be eligible for Social Security's benefit programs, check out SSA's Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool.

To find out more about how Social Security decides if you are disabled, visit SSA's Publications Page, select "Disability" under “Topics,” and review Social Security Publication Number 05-10029.

undefined Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits?


Once you know which benefits you may be eligible for, visit Apply For Social Security Benefits to apply online.


Visit SSA's Publications Page for detailed information about SSA programs and policies.

You may also contact Social Security by phone at:
1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778)


96.001
There is no specific tribal eligibility.
No
Federally Recognized Tribes and Tribal Organizations, Other Tribal and Native Entities, Non-Tribal Entities
No
Over 10 million as of August 2015
No
No