Are you aware that there’s a component in your social security benefit that’s a benefit in case you’re disabled which is in essence a government long term disability insurance policy? This benefit allows a person, no matter their income, to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance if they are disabled. But there are certain important points to remember about social security disability insurance: 1. You have to have been at work for at least 10 years before you are disabled in order to to collect the benefit after becoming disabled. 2. The requirements to receive disability benefits are strict. Approximately 35 percent of the people that apply for social security disability benefits actually get those benefits. Prudent planning would have you obtain as much private disability insurance as you can get that covers you in your occupation with a residual (partial) benefit to cover you when and if you recover. 3. The Social Security disability Insurance program pays $722 per month on average.