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SSDI

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    Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

    Apply for Benefits

    You can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):

    • Online (which starts the application process immediately instead of having to wait for an appointment)
    • By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) to make an appointment to apply either:

    Getting Your Application Ready

    Get this information ready for your SSDI application:

    • Names, addresses, and phone numbers of doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics, and others who have treated you
    • Prescriptions and results of medical tests
    • Copies of medical records
    • Your Social Security Number and the Social Security Numbers of your spouse and any children under the age of 18
    • A certified copy of your birth certificate
    • Proof of U.S. citizenship or of legal residency, if you were born outside the U.S., like naturalization papers, your U.S. passport, or your green card
    • A certified copy of your military discharge papers (Form DD 214), if you were in the military
    • Copies of recent tax records or W-2 forms
    • Information on any Workers’ Compensation you’ve gotten
    • A list of the types of jobs you've done for the past 5 years

    Social Security provides a detailed checklist of the information you need to complete the application process.

    Other Benefits

    It takes a while for your SSDI application to be reviewed and, if you qualify, benefits don’t begin until five months after your disability began. If you are approved, you start getting monthly payments, but have to wait another two years before you automatically start getting Medicare health coverage.

    While you are waiting for Social Security to review your application and then for Medicare to begin, you should see what else might help you. At first, try to use your job's sick pay or vacation pay and see whether your company has a short-term or long-term disability insurance plan.

    Then, you can apply for other benefits, including:

    To apply for these benefits:

    You should also look into:

    If you served in the military and are a veteran, you may also qualify for VA Disability Compensation or VA Pension benefits.

    SSDI and SSI at the same time

    You may qualify for SSDI and SSI benefits at the same time. The SSI program counts SSDI payments as unearned income. For a single person who lives independently, this means that if you get $963 or more per month in SSDI, you don't qualify for SSI benefits.

    If you get less than $963 per month from SSDI and you don’t have any other income, you may qualify for SSI benefits. Usually, you get a combined total of $963 in benefits each month between the two programs.

    For example, if you get $500 per month from SSDI and have no other income, you could get $463 per month from SSI.

    Note: You have to apply for SSI separately. Learn more in DB101's SSI article.

    Learn more

    Medicare

    Medicare is public health coverage for people with disabilities and seniors.

    Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

    SSI helps people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and resources.

    AHCCCS for People with Disabilities

    There are more ways to qualify for AHCCCS if you have a disability.