Is there a way that I can upgrade from my SSI to SSDI since I have been married for over 10 years. Can I collect from my husband since he use to work? What do I need to do? I really think they cheated me out of his SSDI. I wasn't stable when I was approved for SSI and didn't know what I was doing. I couldn't even live without somebody helping me do everything. Now since I am more able to do things on my own and I will never be able to work no matter how hard I try and I still need help with some things but is there a way that I can collect from him.

In order to collect from your husbands SS is if he died I believe. Even then it would be a percentage and it would be Social Security not SSDI. As far as you receiving SSDI you must work a certain amount of quarters (5 years or so continuous, I think) in order to qualify. If you didn't you don't qualify. Even those who have worked for decades and then stopped working for x amount of years will lose the ability to collect SSDI if they become ill but not SS when its due. I also think that when you apply for SSI or SSDI the process checks your eligibility for both programs. So it you think you slipped, perhaps not. I'm no expert, others will chime in.

You need to get old. Disabled widow over age 50; widow over age 60; wife/divorced wife over age 62.

If you never filed an SSDI claim on your own record, you can do so at any time. Might not be approved if you became disabled after your date last insured, the last date you had enough work credits. Or if you never had enough work credits.

Dear lonely, I know about the quarters for sure. I just squeeked by with the "continous" number of quarters worked. I was also over 50 and had disability. Hope this works out for you. ginnie

And all this time I thought 50 was the new 30 and 60 was the new 40! Or does your statement only apply to the disabled and mine is only in my mind?

She needs to get older

I just wanted to add my 2 cents. It cost all that two generations saved for before I was granted my disability. I don't even get enough to stay in my paid for home, with taxes and insurance. I did work 30 years, and had to retire early. I think the system is just flat out broken. I think so many people are hurting that they are not able to keep up putting more and more folks on the rolls. This isn't your fault. It was former Gov. who spent what we put into the system. These rules that they have in place, I don't understand either. Even with a rep. getting all the sytems in place to help was a torture, as it is to so many folks. Write to your state rep. ask him or her what can be done, and if there is any recourse for your case. I see alot of people needing help and not in a position with their rules to receive help. I am sorry, and no, it isn't in your mind. We don't pick when we become disabled. I have not met anyone who is doing very good financially when receiving benefits. I also did not pay into the system long enough, to qualify for more. No answers, and I sure have questions about how these agiencies work. I worry for all of us, including you Mz Migraine. One of my friends in upper state NY had to go into his pension because of receiving so little. I do wish there were more things to be done to help all the folks that become disabled. ginnie

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/S...SDIbenies.html

In 1970, there were 2.6 million disabled workers and dependents. By 2000, it had incresed to 6.6 million. By 2011, the number has jumped to 10.6 million. I think the right conclusion would be that there are over 4 times as many people who are getting benefits from a program that was not designed to be able to afford that. And it is not sustainable. One of the hard decisions lawmakers will have to decide in the next decade is how much more to tax the workers sustaining the program; how to keep people who have saved their own or their family's money off the program (make it fully needs based); or reduce the benefits by changing the formula so future beneficiaries get even less based on their contributions.

The disability trust fund (a misnomer) still has, on paper, sufficient surplus to pay current benefits so this is not an issue of the government spending the trust funds. Our country has been running on credit for decades. Social Security disability is just one of many IOU's.

Unfortunate; but true....you're telling it the way it is. There just are not enough workers to pay for all those receiving benefits. Funds for the next generation is really questionable.

Gerry

I read the post about all the claims made. It is true. My son now pays into a system he knows for sure, absolutely sure, that in his day, he will not get any benefits at all, and that retirement may never happen. Part of my sons depression is over this issue. He is 40 doing all he can to save privately, and he doesn't feel he stands a chance. He has me on dissabiltiy and tries to help me, paying for dental, or the 20% that I have to pay for medicare to those doctors not taking medicaid. I don't get enough to take care of myself, and I feel like I am a burden to all around me. There are not many solutions to any of our issues, regarding benefits. There are no solutions for the future of our children. The current baby boomer generation is in terrible trouble, and all those after us. I pray alot for the folks on this site. I know the pain of not having any money to pay for anything that you need to survive. Janke I don't know what the answer is, only questions and trying to keep one step ahead of ruin myself. Truely after working 30 some years, I had hoped sincerely, that I had done enough. Evidently I didn't work hard enough, nor pay into the system enough in that time. At this point just asking questions about what all of us caught in the web can do. Keep in touch Janke, and don't ever give up trying. ginnie