What Determines If You Are Covered for SSDI (Social Security Disability) Benefits - The DLI Issue

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

I have spoken to many disability claimants who were having problems with their date last insured or DLI. Date last insured is a very difficult concept for many to understand, especially if they have worked most of their life--but have not been able to work for many years.

It is easier to explain date last insured, if you look at it (SSDI) as an insurance program. Social Security disability is an insurance program and the premiums are paid through payroll taxes. As long as you are working and taxes are being withheld from your payroll check, you are paying your insurance premium. If you are self employed it is important to show some kind of net profit in your business if you want to be insured for Social Security disability (you have to pay FICA taxes).

I have met many people who been self employed all their lives...who are not able to receive Social Security disability benefits because they never paid taxes a.k.a. their premiums. In essence, if you never pay into the Social Security system you will not be insured for Social Security disability.

Even if you have worked and are insured for Social Security disability, you will not be insured forever. Like other insurance programs, Social Security disability coverage can lapse when premiums stop being paid. When you stop working, you stop paying your Social Security disability premiums through payroll tax deductions.

It takes some time for your Social Security disability insurance to lapse after you stop working but it will end. The date your disability insurance ends is known as the “date last insured”, or DLI. The date last insured will always be the last day of a quarter (i.e. March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31). Generally, most individuals are able to keep their insured status for about five years after they stop work or stop paying into the system through their payroll or self-employment taxes.

If you have a date last insured in the past or your date last insured will come before your disability case is resolved, you should make sure to stay focused on your disability claim. This may be your only chance to receive Social Security disability benefits. It is important to provide disability examiners with whatever information they request and to attend any scheduled consultative examinations required. Disability examiners can deny your disability claim if you do not provide information or you do not attend your consultative examination--without ever looking at your medical information.

If your disability claim is denied, it is especially important to appeal your denial if the decision is past your date last insured or DLI. If your disability claim is denied, it may be a good idea to consider the services of a Social Security disability attorney or non-attorney representative who can make sure you do not miss your appeal dates.

Should your disability claim have to be appealed to an administrative law judge, your representative can present your disability case in a way that is most favorable to you. Since this could be your last chance to receive Social Security disability, you should do everything in your power to make sure your disability claim has a positive outcome.

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Topics and Questions

What happens if my social security disability application is denied?

If You Are Currently Working Are You Eligible To Receive Social Security Disability?

After you file for SSD, the Disability Examiner may contact you for additional information

How do I apply for a Social Security disability widow’s claim ?

Who Makes the Decision at the Social Security Disability, SSI Hearing Level?

Applying for disability benefits in Massachusetts

Social Security Consultative Medical Exams and How they affect Disability Claims

What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits?

Will my claim for SSD or SSI Disability Benefits be denied?

What Does It Mean If you Are Denied For Disability Because Of Other Work?

Social Security Disability and SSI Disability Benefits

How Disabling Does A Condition Have To Be For Social Security, SSDI Benefits?

Recent Medical Records for a Social Security Disability or SSI case

How often will my disability claim be reviewed ?

Appealing A Social Security Disability Determination

Recent Medical Records for a Social Security Disability or SSI case

Can a Disability Examiner or Judge make a Social Security Approval with Old Medical Records?

What Happens in the processing of a disability claim after you file?

Can a Disability Examiner or Judge make a Social Security Approval with Old Medical Records?

Filing for SSD Disability - When Should You put in a Claim?

Does The Social Security Reconsideration Take as Long As The Disability Application?

How Often Does Social Security Approve Disability The First Time You Apply?

Can you get temporary Social Security disability or SSI benefits ?

How Important is the Treating Physician to a Social Security Disability or SSI case?

The SSD, Social Security Disability Date of Application

The chances of winning a social security hearing for disability benefits?

What is the state disability agency (DDS, Disability Determination Services)?

Will I Qualify For SSI, How Do I Get Approved?

What are the odds of a judge giving you a disability denial?

How Do You Qualify For Disability If You Don’t Have Money To Go To the Doctor?

How Long Does It Usually Take To Get Disability After I see Their Medical Examiner?

Do I Have A Good Chance Of Winning Social Security Disability On Appeal?

Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits

How Long Can You Receive Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI)?

The Qualifications for Disability Benefits and the Types of Evidence Social Security Looks at

If I am Awarded Social Security Disability Will My Benefits be Cutoff Later?

Can my child receive disability for asthma ?

How Will Social Security Look At My Case If I have More Than One Disabling Condition?

Will my doctor charge me for a letter for my social security disability claim?

Applying for disability benefits in South Carolina

What Happens When You File A Second SSA Disability Claim?

When a person that has been receiving SSD monthly payments dies, how is the last payment made?

Has my Disability Claim Been Approved?

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Washington

Are Social Security Disability Claims Based On Back Pain Usually Turned Down?

What if you make too much when You apply for disability?

What Income Will Affect Your Disability Benefits?

SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials