Are You Insured?

To figure out if you are insured by Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Social Security does two tests that look at your work history. If you pass both tests, you are insured. If you do not pass either one of these tests, it does not matter if you have a disability, because you are not covered by this insurance program.

If you are insured and Social Security also says you have a disability, you may qualify for SSDI benefits.

Note: If you are an adult and have a disability that began before you turned 22, you may be able to get a Social Security benefit called Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB). You do not need to have worked to qualify for CDB. Instead, one of your parents must be getting SSDI benefits or Social Security retirement benefits, or have died and worked long enough under Social Security to qualify you for CDB. For CDB, you must be 18 years old or older and you must have a disability. Social Security does the same disability determination for CDB that it does for SSDI. As with SSDI, Medicare health coverage begins two years after you start getting CDB benefits. Learn more about CDB.

Work History Test One: Have You Worked Recently?

This is also called the Recent Work Test. You need to have worked enough recently and paid Social Security taxes to pass this test. Here’s how it works:

If you don’t pass the Recent Work Test, you are not insured and do not qualify for SSDI benefits.

Work History Test Two: How Long Have You Worked?

This test is also called the Duration of Work Test. You need to have worked and paid Social Security taxes a certain number of years during your entire lifetime to pass this test. Here’s how it works:

Note: If you have worked in another country, Social Security may count those years of work. Read more about “totalization” benefits.

If you don’t pass the Duration of Work Test, you are not insured and do not qualify for SSDI.

If you pass both of these work tests and have a disability, you may qualify for SSDI benefits.