Totally get where you’re coming from. When I refinanced last year, I had to explain SSDI income to two different loan officers at the same company—one knew exactly what to do, the other acted like it was the first time he’d seen it. It’s wild how much it depends on who you get. Have you noticed if credit unions are any better with this stuff? I’ve heard mixed things, but at least you can usually talk to a real person instead of getting bounced around.
Yeah, I’ve noticed it’s kind of a toss-up depending on who you talk to. I tried a credit union first because I figured they’d be more flexible, but honestly, the person I got seemed just as confused about SSDI as the big banks. It’s weird how there’s no standard training for this stuff. Totally agree about being able to talk to a real person though—at least you don’t get stuck in endless phone trees. Hang in there, it’s frustrating but you’re definitely not alone.
Yeah, I totally get what you mean about the confusion—sometimes it feels like you’re explaining SSDI to the loan officer instead of the other way around. I’ve run into that too, and it’s wild how inconsistent the info can be. Here’s what worked for me, step by step:
1. Gather every bit of documentation you can about your SSDI—award letters, bank statements showing deposits, even letters from your caseworker if you have one. The more proof, the better.
2. Before even applying, I called around and asked specifically if they’d worked with FHA loans for people on disability income. Some places were honest and said no, which saved me a lot of time.
3. If you get someone who seems lost, don’t be afraid to ask for a supervisor or someone in underwriting. Sometimes they actually know more than the front-line folks.
4. Keep notes on who you talk to and what they say—it helps if you need to clarify things later.
It’s definitely frustrating, but persistence pays off. And yeah, talking to a real person is a game-changer... even if sometimes you have to explain things twice.
That’s super helpful, thanks for breaking it down. I’ve noticed some lenders act like SSDI is this big mystery, even though it’s pretty straightforward income-wise. Did you run into any issues with them questioning the “permanence” of your disability or asking for proof that it’ll continue? I had one place ask for a letter basically predicting my future, which felt kind of weird. Just curious if that’s common or if I just got unlucky...
I had one place ask for a letter basically predicting my future, which felt kind of weird.
That’s not just you—I've run into that exact same thing. When I was applying for my FHA loan, the lender wanted a “continuance letter” from Social Security, which is odd because SSDI doesn’t really do that. I remember feeling like they wanted me to prove the impossible. I ended up sending them my award letter and a benefits verification letter, but they still kept asking if there was any way to confirm it would “never end.”
It’s frustrating because, like you said, SSDI is pretty cut and dry as income. Some lenders just get spooked by anything that isn’t a W-2 or a pension. In my case, after some back and forth (and a lot of deep sighs), they finally accepted what I had.
You’re definitely not alone in this. It’s more common than people think, unfortunately. Just keep pushing back when they ask for stuff that doesn’t exist—eventually someone reasonable will step in and realize you’re following all the right steps.