AFTER 5 YEARS OF NO WORK, DISABIITY BENEFITS EVAPORATE
No matter how long you have worked, if you stop working your Social Security disability coverage will disappear in about 5 years.
Let's say you have worked for 20 years and paid into the Social Security disability system (mandatory for most workers). After 20 years you stop working, even though you are only 40 years old.
If you file a new disability claim more than 5 years after you stopped working, you will find that you are no longer covered and no benefits are available, no matter how sick you are. The date you are last covered by the Social Security disability program is called the Date Last Insured (DLI).
Coverage under the Social Security disability program is earned by working and accumulating "quarters of coverage." In 2016, a quarter of coverage is any calendar quarter in which you worked and earned at least $1,260 during the quarter.
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QUESTIONS:
If I begin receiving a disability check, will that check stop 5 years after the date I quit working? Answer: No. The check will continue for as long as you are disabled or until you reach full retirement age, at which time it will change to retirement benefits. The 5 year rule applies to NEW disability claims.
Do I lose my retirement benefits 5 years after I stop working? Answer: No. The 5 year rule only applies to disability benefits.
My date last insured is 12/31/2018. What does that mean? It means that you will not be eligible for disability benefits on any new application filed after 12/31/18, unless you can prove that the disability began prior to 12/31/18.
I think I may not be covered by Social Security disability but I am recently disabled. What should I do? Answer: You should (1) Check with a local Social Security office to find out for certain whether you have insured status, and (2) Find out if you qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income), which does not require work credits.
Let's say you have worked for 20 years and paid into the Social Security disability system (mandatory for most workers). After 20 years you stop working, even though you are only 40 years old.
If you file a new disability claim more than 5 years after you stopped working, you will find that you are no longer covered and no benefits are available, no matter how sick you are. The date you are last covered by the Social Security disability program is called the Date Last Insured (DLI).
Coverage under the Social Security disability program is earned by working and accumulating "quarters of coverage." In 2016, a quarter of coverage is any calendar quarter in which you worked and earned at least $1,260 during the quarter.
____________
QUESTIONS:
If I begin receiving a disability check, will that check stop 5 years after the date I quit working? Answer: No. The check will continue for as long as you are disabled or until you reach full retirement age, at which time it will change to retirement benefits. The 5 year rule applies to NEW disability claims.
Do I lose my retirement benefits 5 years after I stop working? Answer: No. The 5 year rule only applies to disability benefits.
My date last insured is 12/31/2018. What does that mean? It means that you will not be eligible for disability benefits on any new application filed after 12/31/18, unless you can prove that the disability began prior to 12/31/18.
I think I may not be covered by Social Security disability but I am recently disabled. What should I do? Answer: You should (1) Check with a local Social Security office to find out for certain whether you have insured status, and (2) Find out if you qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income), which does not require work credits.
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