Social Security Disability Insurance · Also called: disability benefits
A Social Security benefit for workers who can no longer work because of a qualifying disability. It equals the PIA, converts to a retirement benefit at full retirement age, and brings early Medicare.
Cash benefits begin after a five-month waiting period. Medicare eligibility follows after 24 months of disability benefit entitlement, regardless of age.
SSDI is taxed under the same provisional-income rules as retirement benefits. At full retirement age it converts automatically to a retirement benefit of the same amount.