The 2 Disability Benefits Programs Under the Social Security Administration

Whether it’s because of a work-related injury, an accident, a disease, or even age -- everyone faces a high risk of getting disabled later on in their lives. In fact, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), a person as young as 20-years old, has a 3 in 10 chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age.

Given the difficulty of living with a disability as well as its impact on the socio-economic lives of the disabled individual and his family, the SSA has enacted and continues to implement programs to provide monetary assistance to disabled Americans.

Derived from the taxes paid into the Social Security as well as U.S. Treasury general funds, the SSA provides monetary assistance through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

If you’re interested in applying for disability benefits, you have to know first the distinction between these 2 programs as it has different eligibility requirements you need to comply with in order to qualify for benefits. Now, you can always ask for the assistance of Los Angeles social security disability lawyer if you live in the city and want to receive benefits. However, if you want to try filing an application on your own first, here is what you need to know about SSDI and SSI.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

SSDI benefits are given to people who are unable to work anymore because their disability or medical condition is expected to last at least one year or result in death.

To be qualified, the disabled applicant must also meet the SSA’s strict definition of a disability. Your medical condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work activities such as walking or sitting for at least one year.

However, further eligibility requirements to impose earnings test to ensure that the applicant meets the earning requirements. The “recent work” test is based on your age at the time you became disabled while under the “duration of work” test, you must have worked long enough under Social Security.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Benefits under the SSI are not based on the work credits accumulated by a disabled employee – rather, it is needs-based and paid out to people who have low income and few resources. Also, SSI may be provided to the following people:

• Those who are 65-years old or older
• Those who are blind
• Disabled individuals

Other eligibility requirements also include:

• You must be a U.S. or the Northern Mariana Islands resident and be a U.S. citizen or national
• There are different income requirements or limits per state however, the SSA generally includes your income with your spouse or with your parents (if the applicant is younger than 18 years old). If you are disabled but you are employed, SSA does not include the wages you use to pay for items and services that enable you to work.
• A single person may have resources worth up to $2,000 and still get SSI. A couple can have resources worth up to $3,000.