If You Have a Disability, Social Security Can Help
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: October 8, 2015
October is Disability Awareness Month. For Social Security, disability is always at the forefront of our conversations. We hear stories daily about Americans living with disabling conditions who need help from the system they contributed to during their working life. Their stories make us proud of the work we do.
Through our Faces and Facts of Disability website, we share the stories about what it means to receive disability benefits from Social Security. The site highlights some of the people who benefit from our programs. We believe that learning the facts and hearing peoples’ stories about disability allows for a better understanding of what’s perhaps the most misunderstood Social Security program.
The Social Security Act sets a very strict definition of disability. Social Security pays benefits to insured people who can’t work because they have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. The impairment must be so severe that it renders the person unable to perform not only his or her previous work, but also any other substantial work.
Social Security doesn’t provide temporary or partial disability benefits. Because the eligibility requirements are so strict, our disability beneficiaries are among the most severely impaired people in the country. Our new online resources, the state disability fact sheets and our national disability issue paper, provide specific information about our recipients’ demographics by state and congressional district. These resources are proof of Social Security’s economic impact and benefit to our most vulnerable citizens.
Disability is something we don’t like to think about, or we may think it can’t happen to us. But the odds of becoming disabled are greater than we realize. The Social Security disability program excels in providing services to people when they need it the most.
For us, disability has faces and names — among them Larry, Kiera, Ebbie, Charlotte, Jamie, and Christine. We want to invite you to come see their faces, and learn the facts. They are truly at the heart of what we do.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: Disability, SSA
See CommentsAbout the Author
Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Nathan C.
When I was a kid I was on disability my mother was on disability when I was nine years old we got in a car wreck I was sent to live with my dad Florida I spent 5 years with him throughout those five years he abused me physically mentally emotionally every way I can think of including sexually when I finally escaped him and got back to my mother I was so broken I didn’t know how to deal with it still don’t one year after I returned to my mother she died I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle here in Texas I was with them for maybe 3 months before I tried to kill myself I drink so much alcohol I had a blood alcohol level of 2.5 I remember waking up in the hospital with IVs and everything else and me I tore all the ivs out and tried to run I got maybe a block down the road and I started blacking out again I heard an officer but I continue trying to run even though I couldn’t see anything then I remember hitting the ground when I woke up the next time I was in Depaul mental institution in Waco because I can’t stand being behind locked doors I lied I told them that I was just fine that I just drink too much I was just trying to have a good time but really I wanted to end it I wanted all the pain to go away I was then released but I wasn’t released to my aunt and uncle I was put in foster care as soon as I turned eighteen I left because about a month before me and my foster father got into a physical fight where he damn near broke me and a half over a fence I suffer from bipolar explosive anger disorder extreme depression I’m hypoglycemic I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 15 I have benign essential tremors which is basically a hereditary form of Parkinson’s I shake constantly I can’t hold my hands steady at all so no matter where I go or who I talk to people automatically judge me because I’m shaking I’ve been trying to get on disability since I turned 18 don’t get me wrong it’s not ideal it’s not really what I want out of life but I have an extremely hard time getting and keeping any job I didn’t graduate high school because my second semester of senior year I was homeless trying to work I’m trying to go to school at the same time been homeless most of my adult life the only reason that I’m not homeless now is because of my wife I haven’t been on medications that I need since before I turned 18 I’ve had to suffer with my mental illnesses without help for so long because I don’t have money to see a doctor don’t have money to see a counselor don’t have the capabilities monetarily to get the help I need I’ve tried several times to convince Social Security Disability that I need their help and I’ve been denied time and time again I don’t know what to do anymore I’m losing hope I need help
Wayne B.
I started drawing social security retirement at age 63 1/2, and I am now age 65. The VA just rated me as 100% disabled. Is it too late for me to apply for social security disability?
R.F.
Thank you for your question Wayne. You can apply for disability benefits before you reach your full retirement age (currently age 66). A reminder, that in addition to meeting our definition for disability, individuals must have worked long enough–and recently enough–under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program. In addition, keep in mind that the Social Security Act sets out a very strict definition of disability, much different from the requirements for other government programs including veterans’ benefits. For specific questions, or to schedule an appointment with your local Social Security office, you may call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thanks!
Joni F.
I am disabled. I was on social security disability for 6 years. Then suddenly, it was decided that I was no longer disabled. Why? I was evicted from my apartment and had no forwarding address so when paper work was sent, I didn’t receive it. I wasn’t aware that I’d lost my benefits untill well after the time for me to appeal had expired because I continue to receive direct deposit.
Now I am homeless and have no income. What the hell am I supposed to do?! I lost my Medicare coverage. I lost everything!
R.F.
Hi Joni. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal records via this blog. Please contact your local office to see how we can help in your situation. If you are unable to visit your local servicing office, you may call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7:00a.m. and 7:00p.m.
Tanim
dear sir, my name is tanim.I am working a garments factory under workstudy department.i am mentally depress after a mild stroke when i lose my parents,which is 8 years ago .From than i become confedence less due to my bels palse problem. sir i want help from those person who help me as a parents, arrange a job for me in usa,uk,australia,netherland……. that means i dont want direct financial help form them.but i want a good salary for establish bright future for my wife & my baby.
Karen
I have PTSD major depression high chlosterol hypertension hypothyroidism ckd stage 2 chronic fatigue post viral fatigue syncope and in 2014 I had h1n1 and also tore my acl had surgery but can’t kneel or squat also I have tremors in my left hand which causes me to shake when I try to hold anything in that hand do I stand a chance for ssdi
mark a.
Hello dear readers, I’m from Texas United State. Am a single father of a lovely daughter. An Engineer by profession. I want to tell the wholeworld about the good deeds Dr Abummere did for me, I was diagnosed of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).I was told by my family doctor, that I have only 8 months to live on planet earth, I was so depressed, I was thinking about my family, I don’t want to leave them behind, THEN i heard that Drabumere is curing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), I never believe in herbal medicine, I collected his email from the testimony i read online just like mine, i want other patient suffering of this disease to also get cured the doctors decision is not the final decision God can still help you. I contacted him via email, he told me not to bother myself,that everything will be alright, I believed him, due to the way he assured me, which I did, he prepare a herbal medicine for me, and told me that am free from the my Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), he also asked me to go for checkup, the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) disappeared from my body totally, I am forever in debt to him, I owe you a lot Dr abumere If you have any deadly disease, ALL TYPES like CANCER, GONORRHEA, HIV/AIDS, SYPHILIS, and ANEMIA HEPATITIS B any disease you can think off. Kindly email him now on:Email: abumereherbalcentre@gmail.
Lenny
I called SSA and was told that my online application was not in their system. How could this be, I applied in January. Is it possible that my initial online application got deleted by me applying for SSI 3 months after I applied for SSD online?
R.F.
Hi Lenny. Generally, after you apply for regular disability (SSDI) online, our system should generate a confirmation number as proof of your application. You then need to complete the application for Supplemental Security Information (SSI) benefits at a local office. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal records via this blog. Please visit your local office with your confirmation number for more information. You may also call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7:00a.m. and 7:00p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks.
Lenny
What if I didn’t go to the FO and apply for SSI, what would have happened to my online SSD application? I only completed a work activity (821) report after the online SSD application was complete.
R.F.
Unfortunately and because of security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog. One of our representatives should be able to provide you with an explanation and answer your questions about this matter. Please call our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Thanks.
Lenny
If you get denied for disability with an authorized representative, when and how can you proceed without them (without representation)? What would I have to do?
R.F.
Hi Lenny, we are sorry to hear that your application for disability benefits did not go the way you had hoped. Social Security wants to be sure that the decision made about your disability claim is correct. If you do not agree with our decision, you have the right to file an appeal. You can file an appeal online within 60 days from the date you received your notice of denial. The choice to use an authorized representative is your decision and you will have the opportunity to decline representation when filing the appeal. If you need help with filing your appeal, you may contact your local Social Security office.
William F.
Hi, I’m a hard working truck driver who’s worked for years paying my taxes and supporting my family, But now at 50 years old, I believe that I have norcolepsy, And it’s getting harder and harder for me to stay awake on the job. Just wondering if it would be possible to get ssi benefits ?
R.F.
Hi William, the Social Security Act sets out a strict definition for disability. We pay disability benefits to people who are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last one year or more or to end in death. However, if a person believes they are disabled and meet our definition of disability, we encourage them to apply for disability as soon as possible. You can apply online, which is quick and easy. If you have specific questions about your situation, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and ask one of our representatives to assist you. For more information visit our “Frequently Asked Questions” web page on disability. Thanks!
Melinda
I have been legally blind since birth but have still worked as a teacher and at any other job I could do. Sadly, I recently had to give that up as my eyes could no longer keep up. I’m being told that I don’t have enough recent work credits for SSDI as teachers don’t pay into SS, but I keep reading that the rules for statutory blindness are different. I do have 29 credits paid in, but some are old and “can’t be counted.” Does anyone know the rule on this? If my onset date is since birth, shouldn’t the number of required credits go way down, or am I penalized for having worked all those years? Thanks for any help you can offer.
R.F.
Thank you for your question Melinda. When it comes to qualifying for disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Income or SSDI program, individuals must have worked long enough–and recently enough–under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of which you have to earn within the last 10 years before you become disabled. There are a number of special rules for people who are blind that recognize the severe impact of blindness on a person’s ability to work. For example, the monthly earnings limit for people who are blind is generally higher than the limit that applies to non-blind disabled workers. We hope this information helps.