What is Social Security Disability Insurance?
by Kara Dolan-West | Dec 09, 2013 | Social Security Disability Insurance
Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. To qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, you must first have worked in a job, or jobs, covered by Social Security. You then must have a condition that meets the Social Security definition of disability. To meet Social Security’s definition of “disability,” you must not be able to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a medically-determinable physical or mental impairment(s); that is expected to result in death, or that has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months. Benefits usually continue until you are able to work again on a regular basis. If you are receiving Social Security Disability benefits when you reach full retirement age, your disability benefits automatically covert to retirement benefits, but the amount remains the same.