What is Social Security Disability Insurance
                     What is Social Security 
Disability Insurance?
Introduction
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a 
federal income benefits program that provides 
financial assistance to Americans with 
disabilities. 
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Beneficiary
In general, according to the Social Security 
Administration (SSA), benefits are paid to those 
who are not able to work for a year or longer as 
a result of a disability. Payments are provided 
monthly to those who qualify.
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Earned benefit
SSDI is an earned benefit, meaning that in order 
to qualify, you must have previously paid into 
the program and have accumulated enough 
credits to be eligible. Credits are dependent on 
work history
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Estimated 
Benefit
The maximum SSDI benefit for 2022 is 
estimated at $1,358 per month to eligible 
individuals.
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Eligibility
In order to be eligible for SSDI, an individual 
must have contributed to the program via 
payroll tax deductions in a job covered by Social 
Security, and have worked recently enough and 
for long enough to qualify.
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How it is different from 
Supplemental Security 
Income? 
SSDI is different from Supplemental Security 
Income (SSI), but in some cases, people may be 
eligible for both programs.
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Understanding Social 
Security Disability 
Insurance
SSDI is a Social Security program for people who 
are unable to work due to a disability. Applicants 
must meet a strict definition of disability in order 
to qualify: their medical condition must be 
expected to last at least one year or result in 
death
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Funding
SSDI is funded from employment income tax. 
Contributions are calculated as a percentage of 
employment income and deducted from all 
employees’ paychecks under the Federal 
Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), in all jobs 
covered by Social Security, or paid by self-
employed people on their net earnings under 
the Self-Employed Contributions Act (SECA).
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History of SSDI
Social Security began in the 1930s as part of 
Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal reforms, but 
initially began only with a retirement benefits 
program, with disability and medical coverage 
following in the 1950s and 60s.
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SSDI Application 
Process
• The applicant gathers the required 
documentation and information for the 
application. The SSA has a checklist on their 
website that can assist with this process. 
• The applicant completes and submits their 
application. 
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