Benefits are paid either the last date worked or one year prior to the date of application
Medicare 24 months after benefits begin
Spousal Support/Division of Property – no impact
Retirement Benefits
Full Retirement Age is 66 if born between 1943 to 1954 or 67 if born after 1960
Early retirement benefits – reductions
Spouse Benefits – married for 10 years and then 50% of wage earner at normal retirement age
Widow/ Widower Benefits
Married for at least 9 months prior to death
Children
Supplemental Security Income
CDB – Children’s Disability Benefits (formerly known as Disabled Adult Children)
Sequential Evaluation for Disability
Are you working?
If no, go to question 2. If yes, you may not be eligible for benefits
Do you have a severe impairment?
If yes, go to question 3
Does your impairment meet or medically equal one of the Listing of Impairments?
If yes, you are disabled. If no, go to question 4
Can you perform any of your past relevant work, which is work you performed in the past 15 years?
If yes, you are not disabled. If no, you are disabled
If not, are there any jobs you can perform in the national economy?
If yes, you are not disabled. If no, you are disabled.
