During a Social Security Disability claim the term “Date Last Insured” is likely to be an important factor in determining eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.
The Date Last Insured (DLI) refers to the last work quarter in which the disability claimant met Social Security’s insured status requirements. The DLI is established to ensure a claimant has established enough of a work history to meet technical requirements of the program. In most cases, individuals would qualify for Social Security Disability benefits if they had worked five out of the ten past years before the onset of the disability. Regardless of your disabling condition, your date last insured is one of the first things Social Security looks at when evaluating your claim.
A claimant’s DLI plays an important role in determining eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits, but can be difficult to understand. Your date last insured is an important consideration from both the medical and the technical standpoint of your claim. Technically, you must have had enough quarters of coverage to have a DLI date. Medically, you need to show you became disabled before your date last insured.
If a claimant does not have enough work credits to establish a DLI one other option is to also apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This program also provides disability benefits to claimants who have been found medically disabled. The SSI program is a needs-based program for claimants who meet low income and asset standards.
If you are interested in applying for Social Security disability benefits, please contact Greeman Toomey PLLC at 877-332-3252 for a free consultation.
