Many people are eligible for disability payments from Social Security, but are not aware of it. In order to be eligible for disability payments, several things are taken into consideration. The age a person is when they become disabled can affect the eligibility, and what type of disability you have can make a difference as well. A person who is able to work, and who earns about $900 a month could not receive disability payments. He or she would be considered gainfully employed by Social Security. No matter what type of disability a person has, in order for them to be eligible for benefits, it has to be severe enough to affect their quality of life, and also must keep them out of the workforce. Children who become disabled before they reach the age of 22 are allowed by Social Security to qualify for disability payments based upon the earning records of their mother or father. For those who have become disabled after they have turned 22, there is a work test on the Social Security web site that can help you to find out if you can qualify for disability payments based upon the amount of Social Security taxes that you have paid.