The Significance of Your Date Last Insured
What is the date last insured significance when it comes to the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program? When you are employed, you and your employer pay into the federal taxes like Social Security and Medicare. These taxes are known as FICA. As long as you are paying into FICA, you are enrolled in the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. When you stop working, there will be a time that your SSDI will end, and that is known as your Date Last Insured (DLI). This is a somewhat confusing concept, and it’s important to know when your DLI occurs so you know when you are no longer covered by SSDI. Here are some guidelines for your DLI. It’s always a good idea to contact an SSDI lawyer with any questions. Liner Legal is a team of professionals in Cleveland, Ohio who can help you understand your Social Security benefits and disability claims.
If you view SSDI just like any other insurance, it does make it a little easier to understand. The taxes that come out of your paycheck are like the premiums you pay towards insurance. If you never pay the “premiums,” then you would not be insured for Social Security disability. When you stop working, you stop paying your SSDI “premiums” through payroll tax deductions, which essentially causes a lapse in coverage, also known as your date last insured.If you worked full time for ten or more years, your DLI is typically five years after you left your last job. The date last insured will always fall on the end of a quarter, which is March 31, June 30, Sept. 30, or Dec. 31.To fulfill the work requirements for Social Security Disability Insurance, you will need to have worked at least five out of the last ten years before you file your disability claim, generally speaking. Your date of last insured is the date on which you are no longer eligible for disability benefits.Regardless of how long you worked, you will have a date last insured for your disability benefits, so it is best to file a disability claim right away rather than wait to see if your disability improves so you do not miss out on benefits. You can also file an intent to claim, which will establish the date of disability onset prior to your date last insured without having to begin the Social Security disability approval process.To avoid becoming ineligible for your SSDI, it’s important to know your date last insured. Contact an SSDI lawyer in Cleveland, Ohio to learn more about Social Security disability benefits and claims. Liner Legal is here to help.