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(1) Generally to be "eligible" (meaning meeting the minimum requirements to be considered disabled) for Social Security Disability, for the worker over age 31, the worker must have earned 20 quarterly credits close in time before becoming disabled. Generally, if the worker had worked in 5 of the last 10 years prior to applying, he would be eligible. The worker also needs to be "fully insured," and that would be satisfied, for the worker over age 31, if he had worked a total of 10 years at any point in time--having the 10 years of work also will qualify the individual for retirement benefits at retirement age.

See the SSA website, view link

(2) SSA's rules for disability are unique to the SSA program--so being found disabled through the VA will not automatically satisfy the SSA medical requirements, and there are other SSA requirements also.

(3) In your husband's case, based on your question, I wonder if he had insured status prior to stopping work and whether he could be found disabled as of an earlier date (such as 1999)?

Disability benefits are paid only back for 12 months from the application date. An individual could have been disabled, as of 1999, but not applied until 2009. The individual would have to allege (and have the medical records to sustantiate) that his disability began in 1999 (and continued since then), but if successful, would only receive benefits starting from 12 months before the application date and continuing forward.

If you think that your husband might be eligible based on the above information, please contact me directly.

Patricia A. Petow, Esq.
www.petow.com
p2 @ petow.com

Thank you for your response, I have emailed you a response.