How many months must an individual be disabled before they can apply for Social Security disability benefits?

To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, an individual must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. However, the waiting period for benefits begins after a person has been disabled for five consecutive months. Therefore, an individual must meet the five-month waiting period requirement before they can officially apply for benefits. Once the five-month period is completed, they can file for benefits, which will then be paid retroactively starting to the sixth month of their disability. This structure ensures that the Social Security Administration only provides benefits after a certain period of disability, reducing the need to process claims for short-term disabilities.