If you are applying for Social Security disability when does Medicare start ?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

Individuals who file for social security disability benefits and are approved will be eligible at some point to receive medicare benefits (individuals who are approved for SSI disability do not receive medicare, but, instead, receive medicaid).

Medicare based upon Social Security disability will begin two years after the first date that you are entitled to receive a Social Security disability benefit.

What does this mean? Well basically, unless you have insurance currently, this means that you may be in the position of not having insurance coverage for two years. So, if you do have health insurance do not terminate it when you first learn that you have been approved for Social Security disability (at least not until you find out when your medicare coverage will begin).

However, in most cases, individuals who have been approved for social security disability do not actually have to wait two years to receive medicare. This is because their date of entitlement will be far enough back (due to when their disability is decided to have begun and also due to how long their disability case took to be finally be approved) to eliminate much of the two year wait for medicare.

In some cases, the entire two year wait will have been eliminated.

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Individual Questions and Answers

Requesting a Social Security Hearing when you have a Disability Representative or Attorney

Winning Social Security Disability Benefits For Mental Disorders

Will I be approved for disability on my appeal ?

When Are You Allowed To Ask For A Social Security Disability Hearing?

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

If I Move To A State Where There Is A Lower Cost Of Living, Would My SSD Benefits Decrease?

Applying for disability benefits in Virginia

Will the income of a Spouse Affect My Disability Benefits?

Are most disability claims denied by SSA?

Social Security Disability Requirements

If Social Security Turns Down My Case Can I apply For Disability A Second Time?

How Long Does it Take To Get An Answer On A Social Security Application For Disability?

Can you get a disability decision in under a month ?

Medical Source Statement for Social Security Disability or SSI

What conditions do they Award Disability Benefits for?

What makes you entitled to receive disability benefits under SSI or SSD?

How do Social Security Disability and SSI appeals work ?

The SSD, Social Security Disability Date of Application

If You File For Social Security Disability How Far Back Will They Look At Your Medical Records?

How Long Does Your Attorney Have To File Your Social Security Disability Appeal?

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Texas

How do you appeal your denial for disability?

Will you be notified if you receive an Approval for Social Security Disability or SSI

The Social Security Disability Medical Review

How many Social Security Disability appeals do you get ?

If you get denied for disability do you have to file a new application ?

Who qualifies for disability benefits ?

Getting a Social Security Disability Determination After Seeing a Psychologist at a Mental Evaluation

The Social Security Disability Decision and Your Ability to Work

Being Determined Medically Disabled for Social Security Disability

Mental Disability Benefits and What Social Security will Consider

Is Bipolar Disorder a disability according to Social Security?

Glaucoma, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits

SSD AND SSI Disability Benefits and Back Pain

Am I Eligible For Social Security Disability?

Social Security Disability Medical Evaluation Form, Can A Doctor Be Forced to Complete One?

How Does Social Security Decide If You Are Disabled Or Not?

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