SSI Disability is a government funded program that pays money to individuals who can no longer work because of a disability, but are too young to collect social security retirement benefits. Not everyone who applies is eligible to receive benefits, and even those who are eligible may be denied at least once before they are approved.

Qualifying for SSI Disability

There are a few requirements before you can qualify for benefits. First, applicants must have a certain number of credits to show the length of time worked. The credits must be received within a certain period of time prior to applying before they will count. Every year, the wages earned to count as a credit changes, and up to 4 credits can be earned every year. Most people need at least 40 credits, half of which were accumulated within the last decade, but if there is not a full 10 years of work history due to age, those applicants may be able to qualify with less. The jobs worked must qualify under the program. If the applicant did not work long enough or did not pay taxes into the Social Security program, he or she cannot qualify for disability benefits.

Applicants must meet the definition of "disabled" which means they cannot do the same work they did before as a result of the disability, cannot switch to other fields and kinds of work as a result of the disability, and the disability is expected to last more than 12 months or cause death. The government decides whether or not the applicant can be "adjusted to other work." Benefits are not payable for short term disability. The department determines disability with a list of conditions, along with considerations about how much work applicants are doing now and how much work they have done in the recent past. Expect medical records and job history to be thoroughly scrutinized during the application process.

Applying for SSI Disability

Applications can be processed online, by phone, and in person at the local Social Security Administration. With the application, you should provide the following:

• Proof of identification,
• age,
• medical records,
• names and dates of doctors and recent visits,
• lab tests and their results,
• information about the place and nature of employment,
• proof of income (either W2 or federal tax returns)
• And any information for family members who may also be eligible to receive benefits if the applicant is approved.

Expect to wait three to five months from the date of application to get a response.

Getting Benefits

Unless the recipient's health improves, he or she will likely receive benefits until retirement age is reached, at which point the benefits will change to SSI retirement, though the amount will not change. Should the condition improve or recipient decides he or she would like to return to the workforce instead of relying on disability, benefits will either decrease or stop depending on the situation. If the recipient earns more than $980 a month in 2009, he or she will be no longer considered disabled. Family members such as a spouse, children, divorced spouse and divorced children may be eligible to receive a portion of benefits.