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Social Security Disability - How To Apply For SSDI Step-By-Step

By Carol & Richard Eustice, About.com

Updated: December 7, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Kate Grossman, MD

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Step 1 of 7 - Get The Starter Kit

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The Social Security Disability program is a Federal program which provides assistance to people with disabilities. The program is administered by the Social Security Administration and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under the program.

The first step, once you decide you are going to apply for Social Security Disability, is to obtain and review the Adult Disability Starter Kit. The kit contains a:

  • Factsheet - The factsheet includes the definition of disability and answers questions about applying for disability benefits.
  • Checklist - This is a checklist of information and documents to have ready for your disability interview or when you complete the online Disability Report.
  • Worksheet - The worksheet can help you prepare for your disability interview or complete the Adult Disability Report on the Internet. It lists information that Social Security will ask you and provides space to write down this information.
  • An interesting fact - studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 3-in-10 chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age.

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