What are the eligibility requirements for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?
The eligibility requirements for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in Colorado are based on work credits. In order to be eligible for SSDI, you must be insured by earning a certain amount of work credits over a certain period of time. The specific amount of work credits needed and the period of time they must be earned in is determined by your age at the time you became disabled. Although you must generally have worked five out of the past ten years in order to receive SSDI, younger applicants may require fewer years of work. For example, those who become disabled before the age of 24 may need to have worked half the time between turning 21 and becoming disabled. Aside from the work credits requirement, SSDI applicants must also demonstrate that they have a severe medical impairment that has lasted for at least 12 months or is expected to last that long. This impairment must also prevent them from performing any type of “substantial gainful activity”; in other words, they must be unable to work due to their disability. In addition to meeting the work credits and medical impairment requirements, SSDI applicants must also meet certain income and resource requirements. These requirements determine whether applicants are financially eligible for the program. When calculating income, Social Security looks at earned income as well as unearned income from sources such as investments and public assistance. When calculating resources, Social Security looks at things such as houses, cars, and cash value of life insurance policies. By meeting the work credits, medical impairment, income, and resource requirements, individuals in Colorado may be eligible for SSDI.
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