If you’re applying for
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), one
of the most important—yet most misunderstood—terms you’ll hear is
Date Last Insured (DLI).
Your DLI determines
whether you are eligible for SSDI at all, regardless of how severe your medical condition is today.
Many great disability cases are denied simply because the claimant’s medical evidence does
not show disability
before their DLI expired.
Understanding your DLI can make or break your SSDI claim. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is the Date Last Insured (DLI)?
Your
Date Last Insured is the last date you are covered under the SSDI program.
It works like an insurance policy: You pay into the system through payroll taxes, and in exchange, you are “insured” for disability benefits.
But if you stop working and stop paying FICA taxes, your insured status eventually
expires.
The DLI is the deadline by which you must prove you became disabled.
If you become disabled
after your DLI, you are no longer eligible for SSDI—even if your condition is severe.
How Does Social Security Calculate Your DLI?
For most people, your DLI is based on the “20/40 rule.”
You must have worked 20 quarters (5 years) out of the last 40 quarters (10 years).
If you stop working, your SSDI coverage typically lasts for
about 5 years after your last work date.
Example:
- You stopped working:
June 2019
- Your DLI is likely around:
June 2024
You can still apply after your DLI—but you must
prove you were disabled BEFORE that date.
How Do I Find My DLI?
You can find your Date Last Insured by:
- Checking your
My Social Security account on SSA.gov
- Calling SSA
- Asking your disability attorney to verify it through your earnings record
Your lawyer will always check the DLI early in the case because it controls
eligibility.
Why Is DLI So Important in SSDI Cases?
DLI impacts your case in several major ways:
1. You Must Prove Disability BEFORE the DLI
It does
not matter how sick you are today if your records do not show disability
before your DLI expired.
SSA will review:
- Medical records
- Imaging
- Treatment notes
- Function reports
- Work history
All
before the DLI.
2. You Need Medical Evidence from Before the DLI
Medical records after your DLI can still help, but you MUST have
some documentation before your DLI.
Even one note showing:
- Symptoms
- Functional limitations
- Onset of a severe condition
…can be enough to build your case.
3. Judges Look Closely at “Onset Date” in DLI Cases
Your
Alleged Onset Date (AOD) must fall
on or before the DLI.
If your doctor, imaging, or treatment starts after the DLI, the judge may deny your case unless there is convincing evidence your condition began earlier.
How a DLI Case Is Different from a Regular SSDI Case
DLI cases are often more difficult because the medical evidence is older, limited, or incomplete.
SSA may deny the initial and reconsideration levels simply because the disability wasn’t clearly documented before the DLI.
At the hearing level, an experienced attorney can:
- Get retrospective medical opinions
- Use later medical evidence to show earlier onset
- Build a timeline
- Cross-examine the vocational expert
- Prove functional limitations existed pre-DLI
These cases are winnable—but only with strong strategy and evidence.
Common Mistakes in DLI Cases
Here are the biggest things that hurt DLI claims:
- No medical treatment before DLI
- Claiming an onset date
after DLI
- Relying only on new medical records
- Gaps in treatment
- Not knowing your DLI until too late
- Filing a new application instead of appealing
Avoiding these mistakes can dramatically improve your chances of success.
What If I Don’t Have Enough Work Credits?
If your DLI has passed and you cannot prove disability before that date, you may still be eligible for:
A needs-based program that does NOT require work credits.
Many claimants file for
both SSDI and SSI if they qualify.
What Should You Do If Your DLI Is Coming Up?
If your DLI is:
- Soon → Apply
immediately
- Recently passed → Talk to a disability attorney
- Several years ago → You must show disability existed back then
Never delay.
Filing early gives you more time to collect medical evidence from before the DLI.
Final Thoughts: Know Your DLI Before Filing
Your Date Last Insured is one of the
most important factors in an SSDI case.
Understanding your DLI early can help you avoid denials, gather the right records, and build a strong claim.
At
Crossroads Disability, we help clients nationwide:
- Verify their DLI
- Prove disability before DLI
- Collect older medical records
- Develop strong onset arguments
- Win difficult DLI cases at the hearing level
Whether your DLI is approaching or has already passed, we’re here to help.
Complete a free, quick disability case evaluation by clicking HERE
