What Does Date Last Insured Mean?

The last insured date is an important date when it comes to your Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, and it refers to the last work quarter that you were covered by SSDI. This will play a critical role in your eligibility for SSDI benefits. If you have questions or concerns about your own eligibility, an experienced Lancaster Social Security disability attorney can help.

Social Security Disability

Social Security disability insurance is often referred to simply as disability, and it affords those whose disabilities prevent them from working – or limit their ability to work – with monthly payments. If you suffer a disability that interferes with your ability to work and you have the requisite work history, you may be eligible for SSDI.

Eligibility

If you believe you are eligible for SSDI benefits and are ready to apply, you’ll need to know your date last insured – or DLI – which is critical to eligibility but can be challenging to understand. Your DLI refers to the last work quarter in which you met the requirements for disability-insured status, and you must have a minimum number of work quarters to have a DLI.

This DLI date helps the Social Security Department determine whether or not applicants have fulfilled the necessary work requirements for eligibility. Generally, if you worked at least 5 of the past ten years – prior to your disability – you qualify for benefits as long as you meet all additional requirements.

How Your DLI Applies

Your DLI sets the stage for whether or not your Social Security disability claim will be approved, and it defines the deadline for coverage. If you apply for SSDI benefits after your DLI passes, you’ll need to demonstrate that the onset of your disability took place prior to the date, which can be exceptionally challenging because disabilities rarely happen in an isolated instant but, instead, tend to develop over time.

How Your DLI Is Calculated

The most common way to calculate a DLI is with what is called the 20/40 test, which involves the following steps:

• The Social Security Department looks at the employee’s earnings record and counts back 20 covered quarters – or five years – from the date they last.
• The Social Security Department then counts forward 40 quarters – or ten years – in which the employee was either covered or not.

Generally, if you worked full time for at least a total of five years out of the previous 10, they are covered by Social Security disability insurance.

Consult with an Experienced Lansing Social Security Disability Attorney

If you are entitled to SSDI benefits, the path forward is legally complex. The well-respected SSD attorneys at HGSK Injury Lawyers – proudly serving Lansing, Pennsylvania – appreciate your position and will leave no stone unturned in their focused efforts to obtain the full benefits to which you’re entitled. Your claim is important to your future, so please don’t wait to contact us online or call 267-350-6600 and schedule your free consultation today.