More than 3 million Americans apply for Social Security disability benefits every year, and large percentage of them are turned down. If you’re thinking about applying for Social Security disability, you need to start by figuring out if you meet the Social Security disability requirements.

Receiving Social Security disability benefits is becoming more common. In fact, the average 20 year old worker has a 30% chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age.

Who qualifies for Social Security disability benefits?

Anyone who has worked long enough and has paid their Social Security taxes is eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. Certain family members may also be able to collect benefits under your earnings record. Additionally, adult children may also be eligible to collect benefits under your earnings record if they have a disability of their own that started before they turned 22.

People who are older than 65 can also receive Social Security disability benefits, if they meet certain financial requirements – even if they are not disabled.

How long do you have to work to meet Social Security disability requirements?

The Social Security Administration bases your eligibility on credits. Each credit is worth $1,120 of income. The older you get, the more credits you need to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. For example, someone who is older than 62 needs 40 credits to qualify. Someone who is 52 needs 30 credits. And, someone who is 42 only needs 20 credits. However, in all cases, half of those credits must have been accumulated in the 10 years before you apply for Social Security disability benefits.

How does the Social Security Administration determine who is disabled?

In order to receive Social Security disability benefits, you must be unable to work at your current job, unable to work at any other job, and your disability must have lasted (or be expected to last) at least a year.

By law, you cannot receive any Social Security disability benefits until you have been deemed disabled for 5 months.

When it comes to determining who meets Social Security disability requirements, you must meet certain criteria. You will be asked the following questions:

1. Are you working right now? If you are making more than $1,000 per month, you will not be considered disabled.
2. If you are not working, how severe is your condition? If it interferes with your ability to do basic work-related activities, you may be deemed disabled.
3. Is your condition on the Social Security Administration’s list? Certain ailments are considered so severe that, if you have one, you are automatically deemed disabled.
4. If you condition is not on the list, are you able to do the work you used to do?
5. If you cannot continue in your current line of work, can you do any work? If you cannot, your Social Security disability claim will be approved.

How much money can you expect to receive in Social Security disability benefits?

Each case is different, so it is tough to figure out how much money you will get if you are deemed disabled. In fact, you will not find out exactly how much you will make in Social Security disability benefits until the Social Security Administration formally declares you disabled.

Once you are deemed disabled, you can receive benefits for as long as you cannot work. People who have met the Social Security disability requirements will receive money each month.

If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits, it is a good idea to sign up for direct deposit. That way, you will get you money faster, because you will not have to wait for a check. Plus, there will be no chance of your benefits check getting lost or stolen.

When you begin receiving your Social Security disability benefits, you will need to check with the IRS to see if you are required to pay taxes on your benefits. Nearly one-third of people have to pay taxes on their disability benefits.

Every January, the Social Security Administration will check to see if the cost of living has gone up. If it has, you will get a 2% increase in benefits.