Navigation HAVE I WORKED ENOUGH TO FILE FOR DISABILITY? IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DATE LAST INSURED
There are essentially two main types of Social Security Disability claims: Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). There are also Disabled Children’s claims and Widow’s Disability claims, but SSI and DIB claims are the most common. SSI claims are for those without income, have not worked enough to have a DIB claim, or their Disability Insurance Benefits payment amount is below the $794.00 monthly 2021 SSI payment limit. In a DIB claim you must have worked five out of the last 10 years, unless you are under age 31, in order to be insured for benefits. Your monthly payment amount is based on what you paid into when you was working.
You can go to www.ssa.gov and create an account to view your current insured status and what your anticipated monthly benefit would be should you become disabled. Some people who are currently disabled, may have quit working over 5 years ago or have gaps in their work history. This will create what is referred to as a Date Last Insured. A Date Last Insured is the date in which you must be found disabled prior to. Your benefits do not cease on this date, you just must have become disabled prior to that date.
These cases are usually more difficult to win, but certainly not impossible. Many times the medical records are more difficult to acquire as the doctors or hospital may not have the charts any longer, or the records to support your disability simply cannot be found. The Social Security Administration will usually deny these cases pretty quickly at the initial and reconsideration levels. However, do not be discouraged! Our firm has handled many cases successfully in which a Claimant had a remote Date Last Insured.
