How can I get SSD if I was self-employed?

SSD, or social security disability, is available to all workers who have worked for a sufficient amount of time and paid into the social security system. As a self employed worker, you should have been paying into the social security system yourself throughout the duration of your career. In other words, your employer doesn't withhold money from your paycheck or pay a portion of your social security for you- you have to pay all of these costs yourself when it comes time to pay your annual taxes. Thus, as a self employed individual, the exact same rules apply to you as they do to anyone else who is paying into the social security system and who becomes disabled.

This essentially means that if you have worked for a long enough period as a self employed person (or in any other job) you are going to be able to qualify for benefits, provided you meet the other requirements. Exactly how many years of work you need varies depending on your age at the time you become disabled and unable to work. 

Once you have verified you have enough work time, the next steps are to make a claim with the SSA and to prove you have a disability that should result in you being covered. A lawyer can help you both to determine whether you meet the minimum work time requirements, as well as whether the specific condition or disability that you have renders you unable to work and eligible for SSA benefits.