The basic steps to file for SSDI or SSI

You can file for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in three ways: online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Online filing is fastest — you create a my Social Security account, start an process, and can save your progress and return to it. The phone and in-person routes take longer because a representative fills out the form with you, but they may help if you have questions as you go.

The process itself asks for your work history, medical records, doctors' names and dates of treatment, medications, and details about how your condition limits what you can do. You do not need to have all of this ready before you start — Social Security can request records directly from your doctors and hospitals — but having it organized speeds things up. The whole process from filing to a decision typically takes three to six months for an initial claim, though some cases take longer.

You must be under full retirement age to file for SSDI, and your condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. For SSI, there is no age requirement, but your income and resources must fall below the program's limits. Both programs use the same medical standard to decide whether you are disabled.

Key Takeaways

  • You can file online, by phone, or in person; online filing at ssa.gov is usually fastest and lets you save your progress.
  • Social Security will request your medical records directly from your doctors, so you do not need to gather everything before you start.
  • The decision process takes three to six months on average, and you can check the status of your claim in your my Social Security account.
  • If you are denied, you have the right to appeal; most people who appeal with new medical evidence or a lawyer's help succeed on reconsideration or at a hearing.
  • You can work while your claim is pending and still receive back pay if you are approved, thanks to work incentives like the trial work period.

What documents and information you need to gather

Before you file, collect your Social Security number, birth certificate, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and a list of all doctors and hospitals that have treated you for your condition. You will also need your work history for the past 15 years — job titles, employers, and dates — because SSDI is based on your work record. If you are explore for SSI, gather proof of your income and resources: bank statements, pay stubs, rent receipts, and proof of any benefits you receive.

For the medical side, write down the names and phone numbers of every doctor, specialist, and mental health provider who has treated you. Include dates of your most recent visits and what they treated you for. If you have had hospitalizations, surgeries, or emergency room visits, note those too. You do not need to order records yourself — Social Security will contact your providers — but having this list ready makes the process smoother.

If you have recent test results, imaging, lab work, or medical reports, you can upload them to your online process or bring them to your local office. This can speed up the decision because the examiner does not have to wait for records to arrive by mail.

How the medical review works

Once you file, Social Security sends your case to a Disability information Services (DDS) office in your state. A team there — usually a doctor and a disability examiner — reviews your medical records to decide whether your condition meets or equals one of the conditions on Social Security's Listing of Impairments. The listing is a detailed guide of medical conditions that automatically may have access to as disabling if your medical evidence matches the criteria.

If your condition is not on the listing, the examiner uses a five-step process to decide whether you can do any work. They look at whether your condition is severe, whether it prevents you from doing your past work, and whether it prevents you from doing any other work that exists in the economy. This step is called the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment, and it is where most denials happen — the examiner decides you could do some other job, even if not your old one.

You can submit new medical evidence at any point during the review. If your doctor writes a statement saying your condition has worsened or that you cannot work, send it to the DDS office handling your case. The examiner must consider it before making a decision.

What happens if you are denied

If Social Security denies your claim, you receive a notice explaining the reason. Most denials say either that your condition is not severe enough, that it does not meet the listing, or that you can still do other work. You have the right to appeal, and you have 60 days from the date on the notice to request reconsideration.

Reconsideration means a different examiner at DDS reviews your case from scratch. You can submit new medical evidence, and many people succeed on reconsideration if they have new test results, a hospitalization, or a stronger statement from their doctor. If you are denied again, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This is where most people who eventually win their case succeed — judges approve roughly 60 percent of cases that reach a hearing, compared to about 30 percent at the initial level.

At a hearing, you can testify about how your condition affects you, bring witnesses, and have a lawyer or representative present. Many people hire a disability lawyer at this stage because lawyers know how to present medical evidence and question the government's vocational informed. Lawyers are paid only if you win, and their fee is capped at 25 percent of your back pay.

Working while your claim is pending

You can work and earn money while your SSDI or SSI claim is being decided. If you are approved, you will receive back pay for the months between when your disability began and when you were approved. This means you do not lose money by working during the process process.

SSDI has a trial work period that lets you test your ability to work without losing benefits. During the trial work period, you can earn any amount and still receive your full SSDI payment. The trial work period lasts nine months (not necessarily consecutive) in a rolling 60-month window. After the trial work period ends, SSDI has an extended period of may be able to access where you can work and earn up to the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit — in 2024, that is $1,550 per month — and still receive benefits.

SSI has stricter rules. You can earn up to $65 per month plus half of earnings above that before your SSI payment is reduced. If you are working toward a plan to become self-sufficient, you may be able to use a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) to set aside income and resources without losing SSI.

How back pay is calculated

If you are approved for SSDI or SSI, you receive back pay for the months between your established onset date (EOD) and the month you are approved. The EOD is the date Social Security decides your disability began — usually the date you stopped working or the date your doctor says your condition became disabling, whichever is later.

For SSDI, back pay is your full monthly benefit amount for each month you were disabled but not yet approved. For SSI, back pay is reduced by any income you earned during those months. You also receive a check for the current month and ongoing monthly payments going forward.

Back pay can be substantial — some people receive $10,000 to $30,000 or more depending on how long the process took and how much their monthly benefit is. If you have a lawyer, their fee comes out of the back pay, not from your ongoing benefits. If you owe money to a creditor or have unpaid taxes, the government may offset part of your back pay to pay those debts.

Continuing to report and staying on the rolls

Once you are approved, you must report changes that could affect your benefits. For SSDI, you must report if you start working, if your medical condition improves, or if you reach full retirement age (at which point SSDI converts to retirement benefits). For SSI, you must also report changes in income, living situation, or resources.

Social Security conducts periodic reviews to make sure you still meet the disability standard. The frequency depends on whether your condition is expected to improve. If improvement is possible, you may have a review every one to three years. If improvement is unlikely, reviews may be every five to seven years. You will receive a notice before your review and can submit updated medical records to show your condition has not improved.

If you work and earn above the SGA limit, SSDI will not automatically stop — you must report the work. If you do not report, you could be overpaid and owe money back. SSI stops when ready if your income or resources exceed the limits, so reporting promptly prevents overpayment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file for both SSDI and SSI at the same time?

Yes. If you have limited work history or low earnings, you may not have enough credits for SSDI but could be found disabled under SSI. Social Security will evaluate you for both programs and pay whichever one you are may have access to to, or both if you meet the criteria for each.

How long does it take to hear back after I file?

Initial decisions usually take three to six months. If you are denied and appeal, reconsideration takes another two to three months. A hearing before a judge can take six months to a year or more depending on the judge's schedule and your state. You can check your claim status anytime in your my Social Security account.

Do I need a lawyer to file?

No, you can file and appeal on your own. However, lawyers and non-lawyer representatives can help you gather medical evidence, prepare for a hearing, and present your case to a judge. Many people find representation most helpful at the hearing stage. Lawyers work on contingency and are paid only if you win.

What if my doctor says I cannot work but Social Security says I can?

Social Security makes its own decision based on the medical evidence in your file, not on what your doctor says alone. If your doctor's opinion differs from Social Security's decision, you can submit a detailed statement from your doctor explaining why you cannot work. At a hearing, your doctor's testimony or a written statement can be powerful evidence.

Can I work part-time while receiving SSDI?

Yes, during your trial work period you can earn any amount. After that, you can earn up to the SGA limit (currently $1,550 per month) and keep your full benefit. Above that, your benefit is reduced. You must report your work to Social Security so they can calculate your payment correctly.