After how long must an individual be disabled to qualify for Social Security disability benefits?

To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, an individual must be disabled for at least five months. This waiting period starts from the first month the person is unable to work due to their disabling condition. It is important to understand that benefits are not retroactive to the onset of the disability; they only begin after this five-month period. This ensures that the Social Security Administration only provides benefits to those who are likely to experience long-term disabilities, thus helping to manage the program’s resources effectively.

The other options do not align with the established criteria for eligibility. For example, three months, six months, and twelve months do not reflect the specific waiting period required by Social Security policies, making them inaccurate choices in this context.