After how many months of being disabled does one become eligible for Social Security disability benefits?

To be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, an individual must be determined to have a medical condition that significantly impairs their ability to work. Importantly, the Social Security Administration (SSA) imposes a waiting period for these benefits to ensure that individuals are disabled for a substantial duration before aid is provided. This waiting period is set specifically at five months.

This means that after a person has established that they are disabled, they must wait five full months from the date of their disability onset before they can start receiving benefits. If the individual has been disabled for less than five months, they would not qualify for SSDI benefits, regardless of the severity of their condition during that time.

Therefore, the answer representing this minimum waiting period aligns perfectly with the criteria set forth by the Social Security Administration, making it the correct choice in this context.