When is SSDI considered a trigger?

• A. Disability is expected to last 24 months
• B. Disability is expected to last 12 months or more
• C. Disability is permanent
• D. Disability is expected to last 6 months

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how long a disability must be expected to last for SSDI to apply. For SSDI, a condition is considered a disability when it’s expected to last at least 12 months or to result in death. That 12-month threshold is what makes SSDI a trigger in many insurance contexts—it's the point at which a serious, long-term impairment is recognized as disabling by the government, and benefits can begin or be coordinated with other coverage.

Understanding this also helps explain why the other durations aren’t the trigger: 6 months is too short to meet SSDI’s long-term requirement, 24 months is tied to Medicare eligibility after SSDI, and simply labeling a condition as permanent doesn’t specify a duration. The 12-month-or-longer rule is the standard SSDI criterion for disability.