DISABILITY SURVIVAL GUIDE: NORTH ALABAMA EDITION

  Do you believe you are disabled and entitled to monthly benefits from the Social Security Administration (called SSDI benefits, for "Social Security Disability Insurance)? Social Security's eligibility requirements are very strict. Here's a partial checklist to see if you meet the basic, technical requirements to receive a disability check:    1. You must not currently be working at "Substantial Gainful Activity" (SGA). In           2026 you must not be working and earning wages or self employment income                of at least $1,690 per month, gross wage You must be "insured" by the Social Security Act. Generally, you must have worked and paid FICA tax for at least 5 years out of the most recent 10-year period. This gives you the minimum "quarters of coverage" to be insured or covered for SSDI. You must have a "severe" medical and/or mental condition that keeps you from working and ...

When you file a claim for Social Security disability it comes down to 2 things: 1.  Can the judge pay the claim? 2.  Does he/she want to? There are a few cases where the judge really believes that you are disabled and deserving of benefits - but he/she can't legally pay you. Here are some of the reasons that Social Security may want to pay your claim but cannot: 1.  Your disability began after your Date Last Insured (DLI).  In simple terms, you SSDI coverage expired before you became disabled.  There is no coverage. 2.  You have not earned sufficient work credits, or "quarters of coverage" to be insured for SSDI.  Here, also, you have no coverage under Social Security Disability Insurance. 3.  Your impairment has not lasted for at least 12 consecutive months or you can't demonstrate that your condition is medically expected to last for at least 12 straight months.  There is no short term benefit. 4.  You have returned to work at "Substan...