A disability freeze is a specific time frame wherein your earnings information is not included in the computation for your Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefit payments.
A person’s work and earnings history plays a huge role in his or her eligibility for SSDI benefits. During the disability period, an individual may be compelled to work fewer hours or unable to work completely, which means he or she may earn less or nothing at all during said period. The SSA understands this, that’s why they created the ‘disability freeze’ status to ensure the individual’s insured status and preserve his or her eligibility for future benefits, whether it be for retirement or disability.
An individual must first meet all the requirements to qualify for a disability freeze. These are the following:
- Have insured status for SSDI based on work history
- Have filed for disability with the SSI within 12 months prior to the end of disability
- Have a qualifying disability as defined in the SSA Blue Book
In certain situations, you can still qualify for a disability freeze even if you don’t receive monthly disability payments. If you decide to apply for disability in the future, the SSA will consider your disability period when calculating the benefit you will receive. In this case, it’s possible for you to receive higher disability payments. However, this is only possible if you request and get approved for a disability freeze.
Likewise, if you are a disabled individual near the age of early retirement (62 years old), understand that applying for early retirement could affect your eligibility for disability benefits in the future, and even the amount you will receive if approved.
If you have lingering questions about disability freeze and how it applies to your situation, please consult a Social Security disability lawyer.
Source:
What Is the Disability Freeze?, DisabilitySecrets.com
