Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) is a Social Security Administration (SSA) benefit program that provides monthly income for people who've worked for a period of time and become disabled. The program can also provide benefits for the recipient’s children and grandchildren, if the recipient is currently receiving benefits from the SSA, including Social Security retirement benefits.

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Disability Questions:
 

Are you working?
 

Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) doesn’t provide additional income if you’re earning over a certain amount each month. The amounts are mentioned in the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) section in this article. There are special rules related to income counting, so you may be eligible even if your gross income is above the income standards mentioned.
 

Is your condition "severe"?
 

Your disability must affect your ability to do work-related activities and it must last for at least 12 months. Temporary situations, for example, would not be considered severe enough that the Social Security Administration (SSA) would consider you disabled.
 

Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?
 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a list of medical conditions that defines what it considers a disability. Your disability doesn’t necessarily have to be on the list for you to be considered disabled, the agency will simply need to confirm that it meets the requirements of the program.
 

Certain conditions qualify during diagnosis, like Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS). These fall under a special provision called Compassionate Allowances and can fast-track the receipt of benefits.
 

Can you do the work you did previously?
 

If your disability still allows you to perform work you did previously, then you may not be considered disabled according to the Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) program