WHY SSDI BENEFITS EVAPORATE

When an individual works enough and pays enough FICA tax to Social Security, he or she becomes "insured" for SSDI, thus is eligible to file a new claim for benefits when becoming disabled.

However, when a person stops working, he no longer pays FICA tax because it is withheld from payroll.  No payroll, no tax paid.  Therefore, SSDI insured status (eligibility) ceases or "evaporates" after a period of time.  This time is usually about 5 years.

Many people believe that because they once worked, they are insured against disability for the rest of their lives. This is not true.  SSDI coverage expires after a few years of no work.

The date on which SSDI coverage expires is called "the Date Last Insured" or DLI for short.

The only way to know your DLI for certain is to contact the Social Security office and ask.  Every individual who has ever worked as a DLI in their Social Security file.  After the DLI expires, it's very difficult to file a new disability claim.

An Illustration

Debbie worked from 1979 until 2012.  She quit working in 2012.  Her coverage under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) continued until her Date Last Insured, which was 12/31/17. She would be covered for a disability which began before 12/31/17 but not one which began after that date, regardless of how much she paid in in earlier years.

So, it isn't just a question of how much you worked, it's also a question of how recently you worked.

If you have stopped working within the last few years, the clock is ticking toward the expiration of your SSDI (disability) insurance with Social Security.  It's like any other insurance; it has a definite beginning date and a definite ending date.



 

HOW TO PREPARE TO FILE AN SSDI APPLICATION

There are certain things you need in order to file a complete, proper application for Social Security disability.  It's best to gather these items before you begin the long application process, whether you plan to file online or at the Social Security office.

Here are the essentials that you will need:

PERSONAL INFORMATION

•  Name, address, phone no., date and place of birth, SSN
•  Name, address, phone of another contact who knows you
•  Spouse's name, DOB, SSN, date/place of marriage
• Same information for any previous marriage lasting 10 years or longer
• Date and place of divorce, if any, for any marriage lasting 10 years or longer.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY FOR 15 YEARS 

• Name, address, phone for each former employer
• Dates you worked for each employer
• Your job title (type of work) for each employer 

MEDICAL INFORMATION 

•  Name, full address, phone for each doctor, clinic, emergency room, hospital, counselor, etc. going back at least 2 years
• First date, last date you saw each provider (approximate)
• Name of each medical impairment
• List of medications you now take--dosage, name of doctor, what each medication is for
• Side effects of your medications, if any

One of the biggest mistakes is not to list every doctor or medical provider, or to fail to list the provider's full mailing address and contact information.  It isn't enough to say, "Dr. Bailey, Hometown, Alabama."  Give the street name and zip code, too.  Example:  Dr. William Q. Bailey, 1234 N. Oak Street, Hometown, AL 55500.  (You'd be surprised how many Dr. Baileys there are in many larger towns).

Social Security orders only the records you tell them about, and always by mail.  If they have a bad or incomplete address, your records will not arrive and your decision will be based on incomplete information. This may delay benefits by 2 years while you appeal.  I've found that there is a limited amount of time Social Security will spend trying to locate doctor's for whom they have no address.  By helping them find your doctor, you help yourself and your claim.

Another important note:  Once you have filed your application, you still aren't finished.  In about 10 days you will receive a large packet of forms in a manila envelope in the US Mail.  At a minimum, this envelope will include:

1)  A Function Report, and
2)  Work History Report

Both of these must be completed and returned within 10 days.  These forms are often ignored or completed partially, which always hurts your odds of approval.  

If you experience difficulty with these forms, ask a relative, friend or someone else you trust to sit down with you and help you complete them.

A well completed application package follows you into any future appeals that you file.  It can serve you well, or not so well, for months or years to come--as you struggle through the disability application process.  It's a lot of work, and a big investment of your time.