Definition of Disability

• In order to qualify for Social Security disability benefits, a claimant must have a qualifying disability, defined as something that prevents the claimant form doing the work she did prior to the medical condition. In addition, the claimant must not be able to adapt to other work. Finally, the medical condition upon which the claimant is basing the claim must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least one year, or be expected to result in death.
  
  

Work Credits

• In addition to having a qualifying medical condition, a claimant for SSD must have enough "work credits" to qualify for benefits. The number of work credits needed depends on the claimant's age at the time of application. In most cases, a claimant must have 40 work credits, 20 of which must have been earned in the 10 years prior to applying for benefits. The amount of money a person must earn in order to gain a work credit changes each year. As of June 2011, a worker earned one work credit for every $1,120 of income earned up to a maximum of four credits per year.
  
  

Benefit Amount

• A complicated formula is used by to determine SSD benefit amounts. A worker's earnings over her lifetime (up to 35 years) are averaged using an "average indexed earnings" computation that takes into account inflation and other factors affecting the true value of the earnings. A formula is then applied to the average to arrive at a primary insurance amount. There is, however, a maximum benefit amount which changes each year. As of June 2011, the maximum monthly benefit for an individual is $2,454. Social Security provides an online tool that can be used to calculate your expected SSD benefit amount.
  
  

How to Apply

• If you have a medical condition that you believe qualifies for Social Security disability, an application can be completed online. If you need help completing the application or prefer to apply by phone or in person, you may call to make an appointment to apply by telephone or at a local office.