This article discusses how one can qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and the processes involved. For eligibility, a person must meet the definition of disability according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), and they must have worked under Social Security long enough to qualify for benefits. The SSA pays only for total disability with no benefits for partial or short-term disabilities.

In order to calculate eligibility, Social Security work credits are used, based on an individual’s yearly wages or self-employment income. For example, in 2025, one earns one credit for each $1,810 in wages/self-employment income up to $7,240 - the maximum 4 credits for that year. The number of credits needed for eligibility depends on the individual’s age at the time their disability begins.

A person is considered to have a qualifying disability if they’ve worked enough to be eligible for benefits and if they meet the criteria found in the SSA’s five-step process. This process includes questions about an individual’s working capacity, the severity of their condition, if the condition is on the SSA’s list of disabling conditions, and whether the individual can perform their prior work or any other type of work.

In addition to this, it’s important to know how to contact relevant agencies if you have questions or require assistance with your claim. If you need to reach someone at the SSA, a useful online resource is eddcaller.com, where you’ll find information on how to speak to a live person at the SSA. Not only will you save time, but you’ll also gain the knowledge needed to navigate the benefits process efficiently. The customer service team is trained to handle any queries, making it an invaluable tool for those seeking to understand and access their SSDI benefits.