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Alex
Alex asked in Society & CultureCultures & GroupsPeople with Disabilities · 5 years ago

is there any way you can Go from SSI to SSDI if you are unable to work?

I started collecting SSI when I turned 18 because of my blindness, while I was still going to college. I had no intention of living on the rest of my life. then life happened. I had major brain surgery that really screwed me up. I now suffer from petiei mal and grand mal seizures, severe chronic pain for which I have to take round the clock narcotics, I have dysautonomia, cluster headaches and was recently diagnosed with cerebral palsy(which likely predated everything and more all of my conditions combined combined make finding and keeping job nearly impossible as I spend time in the hospital once very six weeks or so. All this being said I'm still doing what I can to be productive in society. I have a service dog who is my life line. I want to own some therapy animals and go around visiting people and I want to educate people about serviced dogs and disabilities. I can do all these things on my "better days" and be flexible about it. but holding a typical full time or even part time job is increasing more and more imp impossible. I mean I can't even finish my degree I've been so sick(I will one day) I hate it. my question is I still want to be independent I'm young only 24. is there any way in extreme certain stances where you can flip from SSI to SSDI without working first? I'm not looking for a free ride in life this is real question. my life would have every different if I hadn't needed that brain surgery. but now i have to live with the consequences.

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  • Judith
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    Under age 24 a person needs six work credits out of twelve quarters (a quarter is Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep and Oct-Dec). This year you can earn one work credit for every $1260 you pay social security taxes on. If you earned 4 work credits this year (which is the maximum you can earn) and you earned 2 work credits in 2017 then you would be insured for SSDI April 1, 2017. Once you are age 24 the number of work credits needed go up until eventually you must have 20 work credits out of the last ten years of work to qualify - plus additional credits earned at any time in order to be what is called fully insured.

    So if you can't work and earn work credits then you will never be entitled to SSDI. However perhaps someday you would be entitled to social security disabled adult child (DAC) benefits if you never marry. You could receive benefits as a DAC when a parent becomes entitled to social security disability or retirement benefits or dies and is insured for social security.

    I want to point out to you that even if you would work and earn enough quarters of coverage to qualify for SSDI it doesn't mean that your benefit would be high enough to terminate your SSI entitlement. The AVERAGE SSDI benefit is $1200 a month - to people who have worked and paid social security taxes on earnings of around $50,000 a year. Your earnings would probably be so low that you would have a minimum SSDI benefit - certainly not high enough to be greater than what you are already receiving on SSI although, because of the general $20 a month disregard, your total income would be $20 higher each month than what it is now.

    Source(s): I was a social security claims rep for 32 yrs.
  • TrustMe
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    SSDI is eligible to people who have worked 10 years and paid into the Social Security Insurance program.

    If you've never worked, the chances of receiving it are negligable (I'm not saying non-existent, because I don't know about someone who is severely disabled).

    It's not much more than SSDI .. I live on $1,000/mo and no food stamps.

  • Teddy's Mom Chiliswoman
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    Simple answer No. SSDI is an insurance program you pay into. While as a young person you do need to have paid in as much, you still need to have paid in some. So if you have never worked, not a chance, not on your own record as you have no record.

  • John
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    I suggest you call your local Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and schedule an intake interview. You can discuss and explore different vocations with a counselor. DVR can provide support while you lean a job.

    You own plan of working with service animals sounds realistic. DVR can help you to accomplish that plan.

    If you start working you will earn Social Security Credits and ultimately be able to get SSDI. Since you are legally blind you will qualify for benefits unless your sight is restored.

    Congratulations on your ambition. I’m sure DVR can help you.

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  • sophieb
    Lv 7
    5 years ago

    talk with an attorney whose specialty is SS. Ask if they can help you fill out the form to apply for SSDI. To get this moving faster you'd need a copy of doctors' notes and a letter from the doctor(s) saying what percentage you are disabled and if you're totally disabled or not. And you'd need copies of any MRI's and such that you'd had. While you can describe what you have in your SSDI application and say you have this information you'd need this information to show the judge at your SSDI hearing.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Probably it is ok

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