Independent guide · not the SSA
SSDI · how to apply
How to apply for SSDI
SSA says to apply as soon as you become disabled. There are three ways: online, by phone or at a local Social Security office. Applying is free.
- Gather your informationUse SSA's checklist: jobs in the last 5 years, doctors and hospitals with dates, medicines, tests and your schooling.
- Apply online, by phone or at an officeApply online at ssa.gov, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or call or visit your local office. To apply in person, call first for an appointment.
- Answer SSA and the state agencyThe office checks the non-medical rules. The state Disability Determination Services (DDS) collects medical records and decides the medical part.
What happens after you apply
The Social Security field office checks things like age, work and marital status. It then sends the case to the DDS in your state. The DDS asks your own doctors for records first. If they are not enough, it may set up a consultative exam. After the DDS decides, the case goes back to the field office, which computes the benefit if the claim is allowed.
The documents SSA asks for must be originals or copies certified by the office that issued them. SSA makes copies and returns the originals. If a paper is missing, do not delay filing; SSA helps you get it.
What to have ready
- Your Social Security number and proof of age
- Names, addresses and phone numbers of doctors, caseworkers, hospitals and clinics, with visit dates
- Names and dosages of your medicines
- Medical records, lab and test results you already have
- A summary of your jobs and the kind of work you did
- Your latest W-2, or your federal tax return if self-employed
Free tools
Questions people ask
How soon should I apply for SSDI?
SSA says to apply as soon as you become disabled. SSDI can pay for up to 12 months before the month you apply, but not before the 5-month waiting period ends.
Do I need a lawyer to apply?
No. You can apply on your own. If you hire a representative, SSA limits the fee under a fee agreement to the lower of 25% of past-due benefits or $9,200.
Who decides if I am disabled?
A state agency called Disability Determination Services (DDS) makes the medical decision for SSA.
Independent guide · not the SSA. Green Tips 1 US is a private guide. We are not the Social Security Administration, we are not part of it, and we do not take applications.
Sources: SSA, Disability Benefits: How You Apply (Web Archive copy of Dec 10, 2023, the latest available); SSA, Disability Determination Process (Web Archive copy of Oct 6, 2026); SSA, Checklist for Online Adult Disability Application (Publication 05-10519, July 2026); SSA, Fee Agreements. Official site, typed by hand: ssa.gov. Read in October 2026; data dates as noted.