Can You Qualify for Disability If You’re Unemployed?

If you lost your job, you may be receiving unemployment benefits – and those benefits can be a significant source of financial support for you and your family. In some cases, however, you may have been having trouble with a disability or health issue as well. You may have been working but with difficulty. If that’s the case and you think you’ll be unable to return to work, you may be wondering whether or not you can apply for disability benefits while also receiving unemployment benefits.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits offered by the Social Security Administration and whether or not those benefits may be received simultaneously with unemployment benefits.

What Types of Disability Benefits Are Available?

The Social Security Administration offers two types of disability benefits. These include:

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): To be approved for SSI benefits, the applicant must have a qualifying medical disability that has rendered them unable to work for at least one continuous calendar year or more. In addition, the applicant must be “insured.” This means that he or she worked a qualifying job for a sufficient length of time, through which they regularly paid a portion of their income into the Social Security system.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI): As with SSDI benefits, to be approved for SSI benefits, the applicant must have a qualifying medical disability that has rendered them unable to work for at least one continuous calendar year or more. Unlike with SSDI benefits, however, to receive SSI benefits, an individual need not be “insured.” Instead, he or she must have income and resources below a certain limit established by the Social Security Administration. That limit may change annually.

Depending upon which of these benefits you receive, you may also be able to collect unemployment benefits simultaneously – but it can become somewhat complicated. One complication is that to receive unemployment benefits, an individual must be “ready and able” to work. For that reason, claiming a long-term disability may be a barrier to continuing to receive unemployment.

On the other hand, complications can arise when an individual remains unemployed for a significant length of time and then attempts to pursue disability benefits because they may not have enough “work credits” to do so.

What are Work Credits?

If you haven’t worked in some time, you should be aware that depending on how much time has passed, you may not be eligible to continue receiving SSDI benefits. For an individual to be eligible to receive SSDI, they must have a sufficient number of work credits. Work credits are earned through contributions to the Social Security system by paying taxes on your income. The “cost” of each credit typically varies from year to year. In 2024, an individual can earn one work credit for every $1,730 in covered earnings. A maximum of four credits can be earned annually, so at least $6,920 would need to be earned to receive the maximum credits for the year.

As a general rule, you must have earned at least 20 work credits in the ten years prior to the onset of the disability for which you are claiming benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, 20 work credits is equivalent to about five years of work.

If you do not have the necessary work credits to receive SSDI benefits, you may still be eligible for SSI benefits, depending upon your circumstances. SSI is a needs-based program and doesn’t rely on work credits. Eligibility for receiving SSI benefits simultaneously with unemployment benefits will ultimately depend upon a variety of factors, including your medical condition, employment history, and overall income and resources.

Will Social Security Know If I’m Collecting Unemployment?

This is another question that we’re commonly asked. It’s important to understand that the answer to this question is yes. The Social Security Administration will know if you’re collecting unemployment – and the unemployment agencies will know if you’re collecting Social Security. As a result, it’s important to always provide all information and to be open and honest about your circumstances and the benefits you’re attempting to collect. Doing so will avoid trouble and potential legal difficulties later.

Disability Experts Florida – Here For You

At Disability Experts Florida, we know that being disabled can be difficult. When you’re struggling with a condition that has left you unable to work and enjoy many of life’s normal activities, the last thing you need is to stress and worry about legal matters. Instead, you can leave those matters to us, knowing that when you do, you’re putting your case in good hands. We know and understand every aspect of the law pertaining to disability benefits, and we’ll always pursue the best legal strategies on your behalf. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call today. We look forward to helping you soon.