18 years old and considering disability

I think it's a fair situation. i can see that they've put in several hours of work already. I myself would not want to do the work myself. Oftentimes I can barely make one business call anymore because it's too draining. I can't imagine having to deal with social security and being on hold for a half hour! I'm glad that there are lawyers who do this sort of work. The only time it becomes a bit more tricky is if you win your case but don't get any back pay. Then you'll owe the law firm their fee and will have to work something out with them, like paying part of your monthly benefits until you're caught up. Still. I'd rather not do it myself and I think it's worth telling others about the lawfirms in case they feel that way too.

Thanks for your info, MBP! I hope you're doing better and able to eat again.

Thank you both for all of your info! I went on allsup tonight and did the pre qualification thing and it said that I will not qualify to file for disability because I am not 21 or older and have never been employed, except for 1 day and had to quit after because I could not handle it at all. I was very discouraged at that and am not sure what to think now? I have read so many different things and it just doesn't seem fair! does anyone have any idea if this info if true or false? or advice?

Jacklyn,

I can't stay online right now but found this wording from the SSDI official site:

In addition to meeting our definition of disability, you must have worked long enough--and recently enough--under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits.

Social Security work credits are based on your total yearly wages or self-employment income. You can earn up to four credits each year.

The amount needed for a credit changes from year to year. In 2012, for example, you earn one credit for each $1,130 of wages or self-employment income. When you've earned $4,520, you've earned your four credits for the year.

The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.

The rules are as follows:

  • Before age 24--You may qualify if you have 6 credits earned in the 3-year period ending when your disability starts.

hey there i am 20 and not long been told i have fibro i understand how ur feeling i have worked in the passed and on m days off i have just been in bed sleeping as couldnt do anything eles now i am looking for work again i am not getting anything atm but i am also considering going on dla and esa but i have been told i should get on with it by family there not surprotive at all :( i wont to work just dont think i can as i feel im not going t be able to cope
if you need to talk send me a message and good luck hun sending postive vibes and gentel hugs to you x

Jacklyn, I suggest that you either try to reach SSI directly or don't rely on the "are you eligible for benefits" section of the above link because I took the sample test and it totally screwed up my answers so I didn't qualify. Don't assume that you don't qualify by the sample test - it's screwed up.

Angle, thanks for finding this. I had NO idea that it existed. None. I wish the "are you eligible for benefits" test I took had come through properly. I was trying it so I could give more info to Jacklyn. At least I can tell her to get more info instead of blindly accepting the test results.

Good find!