SSDI is the Social Security Disability Insurance program. A disability benefit that gives monthly payments to American workers who cannot work for over a year due to their disability or medical condition.
To get SSDI disability benefit payments, you must have paid enough work taxes. For example, a person aged 62 needs to have worked for at least 10 years to get Social Security retirement benefits.
While a person aged 60 needs to have worked for 9.5 years to get Social Security Disability Insurance payments in the United States. As you can see, a worker may need fewer credits if they have a qualifying condition and are younger.
2 key requirements to get SSDI
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has set 2 essential requirements to be eligible for monthly payments from the SSDI program. In fact, you must have a medical condition that prevents you from working for over a year and it must meet SSA’s strict definition of disability.
Apart from this medical condition, you must have worked and paid enough taxes to the Social Security Administration. Of course, there are residency and citizenship requirements.
But SSA claims that some lawfully present noncitizens of the USA who meet all the eligibility criteria could be eligible for Social Security benefits.
How much money could I get from the SSDI benefits in 2025?
If you apply now and you qualify for SSDI payments in 2025, you could get an average check of about $1,580, up from $1,542 after the 2025 COLA increase coming next January.
Social Security Adjusts December Payment Date Because of Christmas Holiday
The largest SSDI payment in 2024 is $3,822 and it will increase to $4,018 in 2025. Of course, it is unlikely to get this maximum disability insurance amount because a disability can prevent you from working in your 20s or 20s.
So, you will not have much time to work and pay payroll taxes to SSA. Do not forget that you will not receive your first SSDI payment immediately. It will take some time before you get SSA’s approval.