• The SSDI program provides benefits to individuals who are disabled and unable to work.disabled sign image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
  
  The Social Security Disability Insurance program pays benefits to workers who are unable to be employed due to a disability that is expected to last for a minimum of 12 months or that results in the death of the worker. To qualify to receive benefits, an individual must have worked for a predetermined length of time and paid Social Security taxes while he worked. In certain instances, the spouse of a disabled worker qualifies to receive benefits as well.
  
  

Your Married Spouse

• According to the Social Security Administration, your spouse qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits based upon your work history at any age if she is caring for your disabled child, child under 16 or if she is 62 or older.
  
  

Your Divorced Spouse

• Your divorced spouse may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefit payments based upon your work record if she was married to you for at least 10 years, is age 62 or over and is unmarried.
  
  

Survivor Benefits

• According to the Social Security Administration, if a worker dies, his spouse may receive benefits on his record if she is age 60, or at age 50 if she is disabled. A divorced spouse may qualify for benefits if she meets the same criteria and was married to the worker for at least 10 years.