You may be eligible for disability benefits if you are totally disabled from any employment for which you could qualify, considering your age, your education and work skills. The disability must be long term, which means expected to last for at least one year.
To qualify you must meet two work history requirements. You must have at least 40 quarters of SS covered employment, and at least 20 of those quarters must be within the 40 quarters (10 years) before the onset of your disability.
No benefits are paid for the first five full months of the disability. This is called the waiting period. The application for disability can be retroactive up to 12 months.
