Can You Get Disability If You Never Worked?

If Social Security disability is on your mind, you’re probably thinking about Social Security Disability Insurance. 

This federal program is commonly used in the US and relies on tax revenue generated from income taxes, typically referred to as work credits. As a result, you may not be eligible for it if you were never employed.

So, can you get disability if you never worked?

Continue reading to learn about the key differences between SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the latter of which does not necessitate individuals to contribute through regular payroll payments.

What is Social Security Disability?

Social Security Disability (SSDI) operates in a similar fashion to regular insurance programs, primarily including individuals who have contributed to social security taxes through their wages. 

This is where the answer to the question of ‘can you get disability if you never worked’ is clear. To qualify for SSDI, claimants must demonstrate that their disability occurred within five years of the last day they worked. In the context of SSDI, "disabled" refers to having a physical or mental condition that impedes employment and is anticipated to persist for at least a year or result in death.

However, don’t give up just yet as there is a separate disability program tailored solely for individuals with minimal or no work experience.

What is Supplemental Security Income?

Also run by Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a disability program not contingent on work credits. Rather, it’s funded by general taxes, specifically designed to assist individuals with disabilities who have limited income. Regardless of whether you were employed or not, you may be able to qualify for SSI benefits.

The answer to ‘can you get disability benefits if you never worked’ is yes if we’re talking about SSI.

In addition to the federal program, individuals who meet the qualifications for federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may also be eligible for state SSI benefits. 

Are You Eligible For SSI?

To qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), individuals must meet both medical and financial criteria.

Medical Criteria:

For individuals aged 18 to 65, establishing eligibility for SSI involves demonstrating a diagnosable physical or mental impairment that:

• Interferes with full-time employment
• Is expected to persist for at least one year or result in death

Similarly, individuals under 18 must satisfy parallel criteria, illustrating a diagnosable physical or mental impairment leading to marked and severe functional limitations, expected to endure for at least one year or result in death.

Financial Criteria:

As previously stated, SSI functions as a resource-based disability program, requiring individuals to keep their resources below specified limits. 

These resources include various assets such as cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, vehicles, personal property, life insurance, and land assets.

To qualify for SSI, the total value of resources must stay below $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple.

It's worth noting that certain assets are excluded from this calculation, such as:

• Primary residence
• Primary vehicle
• Personal effects
• Burial plots
• Household goods
• Life insurance policies with a combined value of less than $1,500
• Grants, scholarships, or gifts intended for educational expenses within nine months of receipt
  
  

Can You Get SSDI If You Haven’t Worked For A While?

Individuals who have been unemployed for an extended period, despite having evidence of severe disability, may still not qualify for SSDI benefits.

SSDI operates as an "insurance program" established under Title 2 of the Social Security Act. The term "Social Security disability insurance" reflects its nature as a form of insurance against disability. 

The payments individuals make in the form of FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) and self-employment taxes to the Social Security Administration (SSA) serve as premiums for coverage under disability insurance, as well as for retirement benefits.

Put differently, eligibility for SSDI benefits relies on factors like recent work history and the ability to demonstrate disability within a specific timeframe. This is particularly challenging for individuals who have been out of the workforce for an extended period. 

Similar to other insurance policies, SSDI coverage has a time limit and will lapse if premium payments, in the form of Social Security taxes, cease. The point at which federal disability insurance (SSDI) coverage expires is known as the "date last insured".

This concept may seem counterintuitive, especially for individuals who have worked for most of their lives and contributed substantial amounts to the Social Security system. 

Yet, SSDI operates as a federal disability insurance program, not a savings account. If an individual has not maintained consistent employment and Social Security tax contributions over the last 10 years, they may discover that they are no longer covered under SSDI.

When Will SSDI Coverage Lapse?

To assess eligibility, Social Security converts an individual's work earnings into work credits. A person can earn up to four work credits per year, equivalent to one credit per quarter. The specific amount needed to earn one work credit can vary annually. 

For example, in 2024, earning one work credit requires $1,730 in earned income.

To qualify for SSDI, you must meet the criteria for recent work and duration of work tests. 

Passing the recent work test requires you to have earned enough work credits in years before filing the claim. For individuals older than 31, they must have earned 20 work credits in 40 quarters (10 years) before becoming disabled. 

Duration of work test measures how much you've worked (and paid into the system) over your lifetime. The younger you are, the easier it is to pass this test.

To estimate how many work credits you need to pass the duration of the work test, subtract the year you turned 22 from the year your disability began. The answer is the approximate number of work credits you need to meet the duration requirement.

What To Expect?

While you may not be able to qualify for SSDI, you can file a claim for SSI benefits in case you have a legitimate disability. Keep in mind that most initial claims are denied, and you may have to attend the hearing in front of an administrative law judge.

A vocational expert hired by the SSA will attempt to evaluate your vocational prospects and your functional capacity. Still, they may not have the full range of information on your disability. 

This is why you should also retain a vocational expert who will testify on your behalf.

For the best vocational expert Social Security disability Texas, reach out to OAS. We have extensive expertise and have helped many Texas citizens achieve positive outcomes in their SSI and SSDI claims. 

Fill out our contact form or call 800-292-1919 to schedule an appointment where we’ll evaluate your medical records and other information. 

Note: 

The information in this blog post is for reference only and not legal advice. As such, you should not make legal decisions based on the information in this blog post. Moreover, there is no lawyer-client relationship resulting from this blog post, nor should any such relationship be implied. If you need legal counsel, please consult a lawyer licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.