How to Claim Disability Benefits in the U.S.: What You Need to Know About SSDI

If you searched "how do I claim Disability Living Allowance," it's worth clarifying something important right away: Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a UK benefit, administered by the UK government. It does not exist in the United States.

If you're in the U.S. and looking for disability benefits, the program you're most likely thinking of is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) — the federal program that pays monthly benefits to workers who can no longer work due to a qualifying disability. This article walks you through how that program works and what claiming it actually involves.

SSDI vs. DLA: Understanding the Right Program

Americans sometimes search for DLA because they've heard the term abroad, seen it referenced online, or are simply looking for any disability benefit they might qualify for. In the U.S., the two main federal disability programs are:

This article focuses on SSDI, since it's the closest U.S. equivalent to what most people are searching for when they look up disability claims.

What SSDI Actually Is

SSDI — Social Security Disability Insurance — is funded through FICA payroll taxes. When you work and pay into Social Security, you accumulate work credits. To be insured for SSDI, you generally need 40 credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years before your disability began. Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits, since the SSA adjusts requirements by age.

The program pays monthly benefits to people who:

• Have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment
• That has lasted (or is expected to last) at least 12 months, or is expected to result in death
• And that prevents them from engaging in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

SGA is the SSA's threshold for what counts as "working." In 2024, that figure is $1,550/month for non-blind individuals (amounts adjust annually). Earning above SGA generally means you don't qualify — regardless of your medical condition.

How to File an SSDI Claim 📋

You can apply for SSDI in three ways:

• Online at ssa.gov
• By phone at 1-800-772-1213
• In person at your local Social Security office

When you apply, you'll submit information about your medical history, work history, treating physicians, medications, and how your condition limits your daily functioning. The SSA will then send your file to your state's Disability Determination Services (DDS) office — a state agency that reviews medical evidence and makes the initial decision on your behalf.

What the SSA Reviews

The SSA uses a five-step sequential evaluation to determine whether you qualify:

1. Are you working above SGA?
2. Is your condition severe enough to significantly limit basic work activities?
3. Does your condition meet or equal a listed impairment in the SSA's "Blue Book"?
4. Can you still do your past relevant work?
5. Can you do any other work that exists in the national economy, given your age, education, and Residual Functional Capacity (RFC)?

Your RFC is a formal assessment of what you can still do physically and mentally despite your limitations. It's one of the most consequential documents in any SSDI case.

What Happens After You Apply

Initial decisions typically take three to six months, though timelines vary significantly by state and case complexity. The majority of initial applications are denied — not always because a person doesn't qualify, but often due to incomplete medical evidence or technical issues.

If denied, claimants have the right to appeal through several stages:

Most successful SSDI claims are won at the ALJ hearing stage, which is why many claimants seek representation before that point. You are not required to have a representative, but many people find the process easier with one. 🔍

Benefits, Back Pay, and Medicare

Once approved, your monthly SSDI benefit is based on your average lifetime earnings — the same formula used to calculate Social Security retirement benefits. Because it's earnings-based, two people with identical conditions can receive very different monthly amounts.

SSDI also comes with a five-month waiting period before payments begin, counted from your established onset date — the date the SSA determines your disability began. If there's a significant gap between when you applied and when you're approved, you may be entitled to back pay covering that period.

After 24 months of receiving SSDI, you become eligible for Medicare — regardless of your age. This is a key distinction from retirement Medicare eligibility at 65.

The Part Only Your Situation Can Answer

The SSDI process has clear rules, documented stages, and publicly available criteria. But what those rules mean for you depends on variables no general article can assess: the specificity and documentation of your medical records, the nature and duration of your work history, your age and education, the jobs you've held, and where your case currently stands.

Two people with the same diagnosis and the same determination can have very different outcomes — because SSDI decisions are built on the full picture of an individual's work life, medical evidence, and functional limitations. The program is knowable. Your place within it is something only your own record can reveal.