Do You Qualify for Disability Retirement?

A disability retirement provides income when you become unable to work because of illness or injury, without regard to age: A 22-year-old can qualify for disability retirement benefits as well as a 50-year-old.

Employers are not obligated to provide disability retirement benefits, however, those who have worked in jobs covered by Social Security will be entitled to Social Security disability benefits. You must be disabled for five months before you can receive the benefit, generally with a disability that will make you unable to work for at least a year.

Social Security has rules called “work incentives” to help you transition back to work, and will from time to time check in to see if your disability still prevents you from working. If it determines you are able to work, it will discontinue the benefits.

When you reach retirement age, the monthly income you have received as a Social Security disability benefit will be reclassified as a retirement.

Another source of funding for those who become disabled is long-term disability insurance, which is offered by employers, and paid in part with contributions from employees. As with Social Security retirement benefits, you will be asked to demonstrate your disability, and from time to time the insurance company will check in to see if the disability is still preventing you from going to work. This income may be reduced based on the amount you receive from Social Security. The federal government and the military are two employers that provide for disability retirement.