There are two kinds of disability through the Social Security Agency: Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income. Social Security Disability Insurance is based on the taxes you have paid into the Social Security System while you were working. In order to be eligible for this type of disability, you need to have medically determinable impairments, have worked a minimum of 40 quarters in your lifetime, and have worked at least 20 quarters in the time preceding the disability (this is how a date last insured is calculated).
Supplemental Security Income is similar in that you have to have a disabling condition that is medically determinable, but also has further financial restrictions. You cannot have more than $2,000 (or $3,000 if married) in your bank account, cannot have more than one vehicle, cannot own property other than the home you live in, and any income you or a spouse earn will be deducted from your Supplemental Security Income by 50%.
