The Basics

When you work, you pay taxes. Some of these taxes go into the federal government’s Social Security trust fund.

If you or a qualifying family member have paid into that trust fund for a long enough period of time and you have to stop working because of a disability, the federal government will use money from that trust fund to pay you a monthly cash benefit. This cash benefit is known as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

There are more than 4 million people under age 65 who receive SSDI because their disability or health condition prevents them from working.