Yep, its a pretty sick system (no pun intended)... Actually, I spoke with SSA today about this. He said newborns and kiddos don't ever get SSDI, they can get SSI (based on income since they can't work), but since they haven't "earned" any work credits and haven't paid into the system, they are not elligible for SSDI benefits.
He also was the one who told me to quick work and make some money so by the time of my interview (June 24), I can prove I made enough to meet the credit requirement. Seems totally off to me too! However the thing I figure is, working from home doing what I do shouldn't really be seen as a hinderance since 1. its not full time (and that's what SSDI is based on... that's why they allow people on disability to work some) and 2. its not a hard job. friends and family order from my website and i make commission. i dont' even leave my house.
The guy today was extremely helpful and friendly and also said its a weird system. LOL. He explained how he and his friend are both retired military by about 9 years. He has taken another job part time (SSA) and his friend never did work again after retiring. Well, he told me he tells his friend all the time that he's nearing the end of that 10-year period and if he were to get disabled (cancer, etc.) and couldn't work, he wouldn't be able to collect a dime of SSDI since he hadn't earned any credits in the past 10 years. Its ALL based on your past 10 years of work, so if you haven't worked, you're out of luck. He tells his friend he should get a job and start earning some credits (also SAD that someone retired has to get a job to be assured benefits should he become disabled) or he won't have them IF he'd need them.
Does this clear things up? I know its confusing!!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">