When a person gets paid at work, the employer is required to deduct certain things from the employee’s pay. One of those things is a deduction for Social Security. A person “pays in” during his or her years of employment, and then is able to draw Social Security benefits at retirement. If that person is disabled before retirement age, the Administration may allow that person to draw those benefits early. The Administration must make a determination that the person is unable to perform their past work or any other type of fulltime work. The person’s claim must also be supported by the medical records that confirm either a medical condition, a mental health condition or both, that keeps them from working. The administration takes into account the person’s age, education and past work experience in making the disability determination.