MN Disability Benefits: Guide to Applying for Disability in Minnesota

Important: We updated this article in May 2025 after fact checking against current Social Security Administration policy and claims data. If you’re living with a disability in Minnesota, holding down a full time job isn’t always easy. When health issues make it too hard to support yourself through work, you still need to pay your monthly bills. And you’re far from being the only person who needs some help in order to make ends meet. In 2023, the Social Security Administration (SSA) paid MN disability benefits to 186,837 blind and disabled North Star State residents.

If you’d like to understand how to apply and qualify for Minnesota disability benefits, keep reading…

Applying and Qualifying for MN Disability Benefits: Key Takeaways

• There are two programs that can pay cash benefits to disabled Minnesotans. The SSA manages them both, and they’re called Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• To qualify for either federal disability program, you must prove to the SSA that you cannot work at all for 12 months. More specifically, you’ll need to provide medical records that prove you’re unable to work for health reasons.
• Your medical condition alone won’t qualify you for payments. While each program has slightly different rules, you must meet certain income or work history requirements for benefit approval.
• The SSA awards benefits to less than 1 in 5 people the first time they apply. You’ll almost triple your chances for success if a disability lawyer helps you apply for benefits; if not, you owe $0.
• Other types of disability benefits may be available to you as well, if you can’t qualify for SSDI or SSI. These payments depend on factors like your military service history and whether a work injury led to your disability.

Option #1 for MN Disability Benefits: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

The SSDI program specifically covers workers who pay Social Security taxes out of every paycheck during their working years. Congress enacted this federal insurance program in 1956 to give people who become too sick or injured to keep working early access to their Social Security benefits. A disabled worker’s spouse and children can also qualify for a dependent monthly payment from SSDI.

However, disabled children cannot qualify for SSDI on their own because they have no qualifying work history. Undocumented immigrants are also barred from receiving benefits from the SSDI program.

Guide to Qualifying for SSDI Disability Benefits

Here are the basic rules that tell you whether or not you’ll qualify for SSDI benefits:

• You worked at least 5 in the last 10 years in jobs where you paid Social Security payroll taxes. This is the first thing the SSA checks when you apply for SSDI. If you don’t meet this requirement, skip down to the SSI section instead. This tells the SSA that you have 40 work credits, which is the minimum to qualify for SSDI benefits.
• You’re at least 18, but younger than 66 and not yet drawing retirement benefits from Social Security. Some people with health issues choose to retire early at 62, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But you’re far better off applying for SSDI instead of early retirement. That’s because it’s the only way to get your full Social Security benefit amount before your 67th birthday. Early retirement, on the other hand, pays you 30% less money for life.
• You can prove that you cannot work in any job for a minimum of 12 months, specifically for health reasons. Here’s a tip: List every medical condition you have on your disability claim. About 62% of people getting SSDI payments today listed 3-5 health problems on their applications.
• You’re currently seeing at least one doctor who regularly treats your medical condition, but your symptoms don’t improve. We mention this the SSA will review your medical records to confirm they support your disability claim. If you don’t provide any medical evidence or have a mental health issue, you’ll need to undergo a consultative exam.

How Long Does It Take for SSDI to Start Paying Disability Benefits?

Six months from your application date is the soonest you’ll get your first SSDI payment, in most cases. The SSA takes 3-5 months to process each person’s application. That includes a mandatory five-month waiting period before payments can begin, but your claim review period usually covers that.

Unfortunately, it usually takes a lot longer than that (especially if you don’t have a lawyer). In 2023, the average disability claim in Minnesota took 508 days to process. That’s nearly one year and five months!

However, the SSA also something called the Compassionate Allowance initiative. Conditions on the CAL list automatically qualify as disabilities, provided you can also meet all technical eligibility requirements. The CAL list fast-tracks MN disability benefits for approval in less than 30 days, so you’ll get your first check faster.

How Much SSDI Money Can I Get Each Month?

In 2025, the highest SSDI payment available under federal law is $4,018. But the SSDI amount you qualify for depends entirely on your average job earnings over a 35-year work history. Most people get about 40% of their monthly paycheck, averaged over their highest-paying decade of employment. The average SSDI payment nationwide is currently $1,580.

If you apply for SSDI benefits today, expect your monthly payment to fall somewhere between those two dollar amounts.

Important: Your medical diagnosis, symptoms, and monthly bills have no bearing on how much SSDI money you receive every month. The only thing that affects your benefit payment is how much money you earned from working before your disability began.

Will SSDI Approval Give Me Health Insurance?

Eventually, yes! Once you draw SSDI benefits for 24 months in a row, you’ll qualify for Medicare coverage. In Minnesota, your enrollment in Medicare happens automatically after you reach your two-year anniversary on SSDI. So, you don’t need to fill out any paperwork to receive this health coverage.

Can I Get Both SSDI and Social Security Retirement Benefits?

No; this is called “double dipping” and it’s against federal law. When you turn 67 years old, your SSDI payments automatically convert into regular Social Security retirement benefits. Your monthly payment amount stays the same, and you don’t need to fill out any paperwork to make this happen.

Pro Tip: SSDI pays the maximum Social Security benefit you qualify for based on your work record before you turn 67. It’s the only way to get your full benefit amount before your 67th birthday; early retirement pays 30% less if you apply at 62.

Option #2 for MN Disability Benefits: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

If you haven’t worked recently or enough years to qualify for SSDI, then SSI benefits may be a better fit for you. This program pays Minnesota disability benefits to children and adults who are blind, disabled, or at least 65 years old.

In addition, SSI benefits come out of the general tax fund and not the Social Security trust fund. As a result, the SSI program pays no benefits to any of your dependents, like a wife, husband, or children.

Learn more about SSI benefits and how to qualify below.

How to Medically Qualify for SSI Payments in Minnesota

The SSI program pays benefits to the following groups of people who can meet all technical eligibility requirements:

• Blind or disabled children and adults who are younger than 65. Much like SSDI, you’ll need to prove that you meet the federal definition of the word “disability.” But you only need to worry about this if you’re younger than 65 years old when you apply for SSI. To do this, ensure that your claim includes medical records that show you see a doctor regularly.
• Seniors aged 65 and older with very limited income, regardless of health status. If you’re at least 65 when you apply for SSI, then you don’t need to show that you’re disabled or blind.

You Must Have Very Low Income and Own Few or No Countable Resources to Qualify for SSI Benefits

The SSA defines “limited income” as any household that earns less than $2,019 in 2025. However, the agency won’t just look at your individual income, or work paychecks alone.

Instead, they will look at:

• Monthly earnings for every single person who lives inside your home. This includes your spouse, roommate, parent, sibling, etc. If that person lives in the same home you do, their income counts just like it was your own.
• Benefits you get each month from other programs, such as TANF, SNAP (i.e., food stamps), HUD housing support vouchers, etc.
• Other income from any passive sources if you don’t work (i.e., alimony, child support, earned interest on your savings account balance).

If you apply for SSI as an individual, you must also own less than $2,000 in countable assets (or $3,000 per couple). The SSA defines “countable resources” as anything you own and can easily sell for cash, such as:

• Jewelry (your wedding ring does not count for this purpose)
• Property (i.e., land, house, condo, apartment)
• Stocks, bonds, annuities that you own
• 401k, Roth IRA, or bank account balances
• Vehicles other than the one you use for daily transportation, such as boats, motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis, snowmobiles, scooters, etc.

The Current SSI Benefit Amount is $967 for Individuals, or $1,450 for Couples Every Month

Your SSI payments can go up every year after your claim approval if Congress authorizes a cost-of-living-adjustment increase. Unlike SSDI, which bases your amount on your past job earnings, SSI benefits are a set dollar amount.

However, you will also likely qualify for other income from various benefit programs, including Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA).

Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) Gives SSI Recipients More Cash Benefits

This state-run program provides additional cash benefits to help pay for basic needs. You can learn benefit pay amounts for this year based on your own circumstances online at the MSA website.

What Health Coverage Comes with SSI Approval?

During the same month your SSI benefits begin, you should qualify for Medicaid health coverage. To access this coverage, apply through Minnesota’s Medical Assistance (MA) program once your SSI payments begin.

Does Any Federal or State Program Offer Temporary or Short-Term Minnesota Disability Benefits?

No programs offer short-term or temporary MN disability benefits at the state or federal level. However, employers may offer short-term or long-term disability insurance coverage as part of your benefits package.

If you’re in dire need, you can always call 211 or visit United Way’s 211 website for further help.

3 Ways to File Your Disability Application with the Social Security Administration

When you’re ready to file your disability claim, here are three ways to do it for free:

Apply Online

You can only use this option when filing for Social Security disability insurance, not SSI benefits. To use this method, visit the SSA’s website and have all the documents you need to complete the online forms nearby.

Apply in Person at Your Nearest SSA Office

According to the SSA, you’ll need to call and make an appointment before you go. The MN Department of Human Services website lists all field office locations and phone numbers. Here are some helpful tips:

• Plan to spend at least 4-5 hours filling out paperwork while you’re there.
• Make sure you have all the documents you need ready. Here’s a handy checklist that can help you prepare before you go.
• If you can’t complete it in one sitting, you’ll need to make another appointment and come back a different day. You can’t just take it home with you to fill out at your convenience.

Get an Attorney to Help You File Your Disability Claim

This method nearly triples your chances for approval on your first try. You’re also more likely to receive your first payment within 180 days, on average, vs. 2.5 to 3 years without legal help.

How to Make Your Application Process Easier and Triple Your Odds to Receive MN Disability Benefits

Signing up for a free, no obligation claim evaluation is a great option since it can provide all the following benefits:

• No chance of making a mistake when filling out your application.
• Avoid wasting time filling out the wrong forms that don’t apply to your situation. There are 3+ forms you must complete, and they vary according to your health issues.
• If you don’t win benefits, then a disability attorney charges $0 for helping you apply and one small fee if you’re successful.
• You’ll find out during your free initial consultation whether you may be eligible for benefits before starting your application.

Want help qualifying for Social Security disability benefits in MN? Click the button below to start your free online benefits quiz and see if you may qualify for assistance now:

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