Date Last Insured — DLI
The last date a person met the Social Security work credit requirements to be insured for SSDI benefits.
Official source: ssa.gov
The "Date Last Insured," or DLI, is super important for anyone hoping to get Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). It's essentially a deadline. It's the last date Social Security decides you worked enough and paid enough taxes to be covered by SSDI if you were to become disabled.
Think of it like this: to get SSDI, you need to have a certain number of "work credits" from jobs where you paid Social Security taxes. Most adults need 20 work credits in the 10 years right before they become disabled. Your DLI is the date your work credits would 'run out' if you stopped working. If you become disabled *after* your DLI has passed, you generally won't be able to get SSDI benefits, even if you were disabled right after that date.
A common pitfall is that many people stop working due to a health problem, but don't apply for benefits right away. If too much time passes, and your DLI has already come and gone, you might lose your chance for SSDI. In that situation, you might still be able to get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a different government program based on financial need, not work history. You can use BenefitKarma's Work Credits & DLI Check to figure out your own insured status.
In real life
- Sarah worked for 20 years, then quit. To get SSDI, her disability needs to start before her Date Last Insured.
- John's Date Last Insured was December 31, 2018. If he became disabled in 2019, he likely can't get SSDI.
- Mary got hurt in 2015, but her Date Last Insured was in 2010. She won't get Social Security Disability benefits.
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Frequently asked questions about Date Last Insured
What is Date Last Insured?+
The last date a person met the Social Security work credit requirements to be insured for SSDI benefits. Your disability must have begun on or before this date to qualify for SSDI. Typically calculated as the date through which you had 20 qualifying work credits in the last 10 years.
Who qualifies for Date Last Insured?+
Adults under full retirement age who have a qualifying medical condition expected to last 12+ months and who have earned enough recent work credits.
How do I apply for Date Last Insured?+
Apply online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. There's no cost to apply.
Where can I get help?+
Run the SSDI Filing Success Score to check your readiness, then the SSDI Benefit Estimator to size up your monthly payment. Local Social Security field offices can also help you apply at no cost.
Source: ssa.gov