How long can you be on disability?

How long you can be on disability varies by program: California's short-term Disability Insurance (DI) typically lasts up to 52 weeks, while federal Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI) can last for many years or even until retirement age, as long as your severe medical condition prevents substantial work, though periodic reviews (every 3-7 years) check for continued eligibility.

How long can I stay on disability for?

You may be eligible to receive between $50 to $1,681 each week for up to 52 weeks, depending on wages you earned 5-18 months before your claim start date. Our Disability Benefit Calculator helps estimate your benefit amount. Disability benefits do not provide job protection.

What happens after 52 weeks of disability?

What if my disability lasts longer than 52 weeks? If your disability is expected to or does continue past one year, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”) or Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), depending on the type of disability and how severe it is.

What is the downside to being on disability?

The primary downside of going on disability is potential financial strain, as benefits typically do not match one's previous earnings. This reduction in income can impact lifestyle and long-term savings.

What is the maximum time for long-term disability?

Many policies provide long-term disability benefits until age 65. Other policies offer benefits until your Social Security Normal Retirement Age (SSNRA). Your SSNRA depends on the year you were born.

How Long Can I Receive Disability Benefits?

What qualifies me for long-term disability?

You cannot do work at the substantial gainful activity (SGA) level because of your medical condition. You cannot do work you did previously or adjust to other work because of your medical condition. Your condition has lasted or is expected to last for at least 1 year (12 consecutive months) or to result in death.

What happens after 2 years on disability?

Most long-term disability plans will replace 60% to 70% of your normal income. Each disability plan is different. Some may provide disability benefits for up to 2 years if you're unable to return to your job. After 2 years, you may continue to receive benefits if you're unable to perform any job.

Does disability pay more than Social Security?

Yes, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) generally pays more than early Social Security retirement benefits, often up to 100% of your full retirement amount, whereas early retirement at age 62 gives you about 75%. However, if you wait until your full retirement age (FRA), your standard Social Security retirement benefit will likely be higher than what you'd get from SSDI, as SSDI is calculated based on your earnings before disability, which can be lower than your potential earnings later in life. 

What benefits can I get if I'm disabled?

If you have difficulty with everyday tasks or getting around

You might be able to get: Disability Living Allowance (DLA) if you're under 16 – check if you can get DLA. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if you're 16 or over and haven't reached State Pension age – check if you can get PIP.

What is the most accepted disability?

The most approved disability category for Social Security benefits is musculoskeletal disorders, including conditions like severe arthritis, back pain, degenerative disc disease, and fibromyalgia, as these often have strong medical evidence and clear limitations on daily activities. While these physical ailments lead in approvals, mental health conditions (like mood disorders) and nervous system disorders are also very common reasons for approval, with intellectual disabilities common for younger applicants. 

What is the 5 year rule for disability?

The Five-Year Exception for Reinstating Benefits

There is no waiting period if you were previously entitled to disability benefits or had a period of disability within five years of the month you became disabled again. Because of this five-year rule, you do not have to wait five months to receive benefits.

How much disability will I get if I make $60,000 a year?

Someone in their fifties who made $60,000 per year might expect a disability payment of $2,000 per month. You can check your annual Social Security Statement to see your covered earnings history. You'll need to set up an account to see your statement online at my Social Security.

Can you collect disability and social security at the same time?

Generally, you cannot collect Social Security Retirement and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) at the same time, as SSDI automatically converts to retirement benefits at full retirement age (FRA), but you can sometimes get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) along with retirement or SSDI if you have very low income/resources (called "concurrent benefits"), or if you took early retirement before disability. The key distinction is between SSDI (based on work history) and SSI (needs-based), and that SSA doesn't pay two benefits from one record simultaneously, but rather converts them. 

How often is disability reviewed?

Social Security disability reviews (CDRs) happen on a schedule based on your medical condition's likelihood of improvement: every 6-18 months if improvement is expected (MIE), every 3 years if possible (MIP), and every 5-7 years if not expected (MINE). The Social Security Administration (SSA) also conducts reviews if you start working, report improvement, or if new treatments emerge, using forms like the SSA-455 (Disability Update Report). 

Can you live off of disability checks?

Living and surviving on only SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is possible for some people. However, making ends meet with disability benefits alone can be a challenge, especially depending on the level of benefits you qualify to receive.

Is disability pay forever?

In most cases, you will continue to receive benefits as long as you have a disability. However, there are circumstances that may affect your continuing eligibility for disability benefits. For example, your health may improve or you may go back to work.

What are the four types of disability?

The four main types of disabilities are generally categorized as Physical, Sensory, Developmental, and Mental/Behavioral (or Psychosocial). These categories cover a wide range of conditions, from mobility issues and vision/hearing loss (Sensory) to learning differences (Developmental) and mental health challenges (Behavioral/Emotional). 

What do people with disabilities get for free?

Supplemental Security Income is based on financial need. Overseen by Social Security, it's designed to help people who are elderly or have disabilities and little or no income. SSI pays for expenses like food, clothing, and shelter. Participants get monthly checks.

What illnesses qualify for adult disability payment?

Who can get Adult Disability Payment. To get Adult Disability Payment, you must have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, or be terminally ill.

Is it better to retire or go on disability?

Disability (like Social Security Disability Insurance - SSDI) is for those medically unable to work due to severe conditions, offering income replacement, while Retirement is age-based, providing benefits once you've reached a certain age (early at 62, full later). The key difference: disability requires proving you can't work (medically), while retirement relies on age and work credits; disability often converts to retirement benefits at full retirement age, and you usually can't get both simultaneously. 

What is the average amount a person gets on disability?

If you qualify for SSDI, most people get between $800 and $2,200 per month. In 2025, the average SSDI check is around $1,537 per month. If you had high earnings over many years, you could get more. If your earnings were low or you worked less, your check might be smaller.

What conditions qualify for disability?

Conditions that qualify for disability are severe physical or mental impairments that prevent substantial work for at least 12 months, with examples including cancer, heart disease, severe arthritis, mental disorders (depression, PTSD, bipolar), neurological conditions (MS, epilepsy, Parkinson's), respiratory issues (COPD, asthma), and immune system disorders (HIV, lupus). Eligibility isn't automatic; your condition must significantly limit basic work activities like walking, sitting, lifting, or remembering, and often involves meeting specific criteria in the Social Security Administration's "Blue Book" or proving your limitations are as severe as a listed condition.
 

How far back will disability pay you?

Social Security Disability (SSD) back pay can go back up to 12 months before your application date for Disability Insurance (SSDI), limited by a 5-month waiting period, meaning you could get up to a year of retroactive pay if your disability began 17 months prior to filing. For Supplemental Security Income (SSI), benefits start the month after you apply, not before. The key factors are your established disability onset date (when you first became unable to work) and your application date, with strong medical evidence crucial to establishing an earlier onset date for maximum benefits. 

What not to say to long-term disability?

Avoid speculating about future improvement or downplaying the long-term effects of your disability during a field interview. Disability insurers are primarily concerned with your current condition and how it affects your ability to work, rather than any potential improvements down the line.

What conditions are considered permanent disability?

A permanent disability is a lasting physical or mental impairment that significantly reduces your ability to work or perform daily activities, expected to continue indefinitely or for at least 12 months, preventing "substantial gainful activity". It's determined by medical evaluations, often resulting in a percentage impairment rating, and can stem from severe injuries (back, brain), chronic illnesses (ALS, cancer, autoimmune disorders, severe mental health conditions like bipolar or schizophrenia).