Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): If Your Client is an Immigrant

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Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

If Your Client is an Immigrant

If your client is an immigrant, in order to be eligible to receive SSDI benefits, he/she must:

Be a qualified alien
Meet an exception condition that allows qualified aliens to get SSDI
Have worked in jobs covered by Social Security
Have a medical condition that Social Security considers a disability (see "What Makes Your Client Eligible" for more information about what Social Security considers a disability)

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a new process for non-citizens to apply for Social Security number (SSN) cards as part of the immigration process. Now, people age 18 and older applying for immigrant visas with the U.S. Department of State can also apply for SSN cards at the same time.

For more information on Social Security's immigration policy, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/immigration/.