Disability, Special Insured Status, and Blindness

You meet the special insured status requirements if, in the quarter your disability is determined to have begun or in a later quarter, you:

1. Have not yet turned 31;
2. Are fully insured as explained in § 203; and
3. Have credits in at least one-half of the quarters:
   • During the period beginning with the quarter after the quarter you turned 21; and
   • Ending with the quarter that you became disabled.

The credits must be earned in this period. If the number of elapsing quarters is an odd number, the next lower even number is used.

The following is a summary of special insured status:

• Minimum Required Credits
• Special Insured Status for Members Over 31
• Types of Disability Coverage

Minimum Required Credits

You need at least six credits in order to have special insured status. If you became disabled before the quarter you turned 24, you must have six quarters of coverage in the 12-quarter period ending with the quarter your disability began.

Special Insured Status for Members Over 31

If you are over 31, you may obtain special insured status if you met the following conditions:

1. You had a previous period of disability established before you turned 31;
2. You met and currently meet the special insured requirements (as set out above); and
3. You currently do not meet the 20/40 rule or fully insured status requirements.

A person disabled because of blindness may qualify for entitlement to disability benefits if he or she is fully insured as explained in §203. Blind workers are not required to meet "20 credits in 40 quarters" or "special insured status" tests.

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Types of Disability Coverage

1. Monthly cash benefits for a disabled worker and family. The benefits for the disabled worker are usually called "disability insurance benefits." However, in this Chapter they are called "disabled worker's benefits." This is to distinguish them from other benefits for disabled persons.
2. Monthly cash benefits for the needy, blind, or disabled individuals. This includes blind or disabled children under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
3. The establishment of a period of disability for a disabled worker. This protects against the loss of or the reduction in the disability amount or retirement insurance benefits for the worker or the worker's survivors. The establishment of a period of disability excludes the time that the worker is disabled when determining either insured status or the amount of benefits. This protects the worker since it is likely that the worker does not have substantial earnings when disabled. The requirements for disabled worker's benefits and for establishing a period of disability are nearly the same. A worker entitled to either one is usually entitled to both.
4. Monthly cash benefits for a disabled widow(er) or disabled surviving divorced spouse. These benefits apply to disabled widow(er)s or disabled surviving divorced spouses age 50-59 who meet the other requirements for entitlement to widow(er)'s insurance benefits.
5. Monthly cash benefits for a disabled son or daughter of a worker entitled to disabled worker's or retirement benefits or of an insured worker who died. These benefits are payable as early as age 18.
6. Vocational rehabilitation services for a Social Security disability beneficiary or a SSI disabled or blind recipient. These services are available for beneficiaries who are able to work as long as they are provided with some assistance.
7. Hospital and supplementary medical insurance protection to:
   • A person under age 65 who has been entitled to either of the following:
     • Disability benefits as a disabled worker, widow(er), or adult child; or
     • Disabled widow(er) benefits for at least 24 months. Note: The person must be entitled to benefits on the basis of insured status established under the Social Security Act. This does not include credits earned under the program of any other country.
   • A person who:
     • Has chronic kidney failure requiring a regular course of dialysis or a kidney transplant; and
     • Is fully insured, currently insured, or entitled to monthly insurance payments because of work covered by the Social Security Act or the Railroad Retirement Act. This includes the spouse or dependent child of a person who is insured or entitled to monthly benefits payable under these Acts.
   • A person whose disability did not end prior to December 1, 1980. The beneficiary may have his or her medical coverage continued for a maximum of 24 months after entitlement ends based on disability, provided medical recovery has not occurred. Note: After this period, a person may elect to purchase premium Medicare coverage. This is provided he or she continues to have a disabling impairment, files during an enrollment period, and his or her premium-free Medicare coverage ended because of substantial gainful activity.

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