If you are unable to work due to a disability, you may be eligible for SSDI, also known as Disability Insurance Benefits.

Your eligibility for this program relies heavily on the amount of time you’ve been working and paying income taxes into the system through your paychecks. The Social Security Administration uses a system of work credits to determine if you’ve paid enough to receive SSDI benefits. What it boils down to: You must have worked five of the last 10 years to qualify. You can read more about the specifics in the Work History section of Am I eligible for benefits?

To receive SSDI and the other benefits programs covered in this guide, you must prove a disability through detailed medical evidence. Additionally, you’ll need to have a lot of paperwork ready to prove your eligibility.