Insured Status is What Makes SSDI and SSI Different From Each Other

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

Social Security disability is based upon your earnings record and on your insured status. How do you obtain insured status so that you can potentially receive social security disability benefits? Depending on your earnings for any given year, you may earn up four quarters of coverage. Social Security uses the total quarters of coverage you have earned to establish whether or not you are insured for Social Security disability.

Social Security requires more quarters of coverage to establish insured status for older individuals than younger individuals (this makes sense because, otherwise, a person who becomes disabled in their early twenties could never hope to receive disability benefits even if they have a condition that keeps them from working the rest of their adult life). However, for anyone, at least six quarters of coverage are required for insured status.

SSI, on the other hand, does not require a person to have insured status. This is because this program is based on need. But since it is a need-based program it has requirements for assets and income. Translation: even if you are disabled and meet the social security administration definition of disability, your assets and countable income could still make you ineligible to receive SSI disability benefits.

Additionally, SSI is the only program available to children under the age of 18.

Although each Social Security disability program has its own rules and regulations, the process of establishing entitlement to disability is the same. You must file a disability application with the Social Security Administration, and during this disability interview you must provide Social Security with information about your medical history and work history.

It goes without saying that it is very important to have medical records to establish the severity of your medical and/or mental conditions.

Generally, Social Security has a twelve-month period of review for medical histories. Newer medical records are important because the social security administration must have current records before a claim can be approved (the reasoning is that disability cannot be granted unless it is clearcut that the person is disabled as of the time that their disability application is approved). Older medical records, however, are equally important because they will establish just how long a person has had their disability and this will have an immediate impact on how much back pay they may receive.

Individuals with established medical histories have a better chance of receiving a medical allowance from Social Security, therefore it is important to provide Social Security with as much medical information as you are able to provide during your disability interview and provide SSA with any new medical treatment sources that you go to during the time your disability claim is being processed.

Additional information at:

Qualifying for disability is based on the information derived from a claimant's medical records

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Topics and Questions

Making a Request for a Disability Hearing

Why Do Social Security Disability Claims Take So Long?

Social Security Disability Advice for Filing

When are you allowed to get a Disability Lawyer?

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

Applying for disability benefits in Georgia

Is there a Maximum I can Work and Make if I am on SSD or SSI Disability Benefits?

Social Security Disability SSI - Retroactive Benefits Vs Back Pay Benefits

Does the Social Security Administration use experts for determining disability?

Social Security Hearing- How do I Request one, how long will it take?

Can I lose my disability benefits at some point ?

If my disability claim is denied do I have to file an appeal to win back pay and monthly benefits?

Does Social Security Disability Always Have To Look At Your Job History?

Is there a time limit for how long you can collect Social Security Disability or SSI benefits?

Responsibilities of the Disability Representative Before and After the Social Security Hearing

Can I Receive Disability Benefits with Back problems?

How does back pay for Social Security disability work ?

Do You Have To Be Out Of Work For A Long Time Before You Can File For Disability?

Social Security Disability Hearings - What is the ALJ

What is a disability according to the Social Security Administration?

How do I see a judge for my social security disability case or SSI Claim?

What to Do After You Apply for Disability

Appealing a Social Security Disability or SSI Denial with a Disability Hearing Before an ALJ (Administrative Law Judge)

How does a Social Security attorney get paid ?

How many are denied disability benefits under the SSDI and SSI Programs?

How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid ?

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?

What Happens if a Social Security Disability or SSI Claim gets Denied on a Reconsideration Appeal?

Can you File for Disability for more than one Condition?

Submitting a Social Security Disability Appeal is usually Good Advice

Does Social Security turn down every disability case the first time ?

If you are denied for disability are you able to win social security or SSI benefits on appeal?

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Filing for Disability

Do people need Lawyers for Disability Claims?

Are you allowed to work at all if you get Social Security disability or SSI ?

Filing a Social Security Disability Application

How long does it take to appeal a disability case ?

How do you appeal if you are denied for Social Security disability ?

Polycystic kidney disease and Filing for Disability

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in New York

Medical Disability- How does Social Security view your work and medical records

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

The Sequence of Steps to be Approved for Social Security Disability or SSI

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