Disability

If You Have a Disability, Social Security Can Help

October 8, 2015 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: October 8, 2015

Father and two daughters 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?

Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!

Tags: ,

See Comments

About the Author

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Comments

  1. Katie J.

    my condition was very critical which i was very afraid that will not survive it.
    i took all the medication which doctor prescribe for me but nothing work out totally but i was able to live with it for the few years tho i still cough all day and seize of breath,i came across a post online which they were discussing how this herbal foundation help them cure their diseases,i was like wow does this really exist so i contacted the herbal foundation immediately so they gave me instruction on how the process goes which i followed exactly,i can proudly say i’m fully cure of copd emphysema without any side effect.
    Please do not hesitate to contact them at (totalcureherbalfoundation gmail com)

  2. Scott

    ATM Card Hacking, VISA Card + pin, MAKE 20000$ Everyday !
    Try and get a blank ATM card today from creditcardhackers011@gmail.com and be among the lucky ones who are benefiting from this cards. This PROGRAMMED blank ATM card is capable of hacking into any ATM machine,anywhere in the world. I got to know about this BLANK ATM CARD when I was searching for job online about a month ago..It has really changed my life for good and now I can say I’m rich because am a living testimony. The least money I get in a day with this card is about $5,000.Every now and then I keeping pumping money into my account. Though is illegal,there is no risk of being caught ,because it has been programmed in such a way that it is not traceable,it also has a technique that makes it impossible for the CCTV to detect you..For details on how to get yours today email: creditcardhackers011@gmail.com.

  3. DJ

    Greetings! Let me start off my stating, I do not want SSDI, I want to work, because I CAN work, so I don’t qualify for SSDI anyways; that being said, I do in fact have a disability that ‘may’ affect what type of work I can do -vs what work I cannot. I am hearing impaired, and even with hearing aids, I have trouble hearing. My questions is: Does the Social Security Administration help disabled people find jobs who are not receiving benefits from the program? If not, does the Social Security Administration know about programs that may help disabled people who CAN work, find jobs, or do we just have to go the route everybody else goes? Reason I ask this, is because I have trouble finding ‘the right work’ that will work with me, due to my disability. Thanks in advance. -DJ

  4. Jacqulyn S.

  5. Leigh M.

    Leigh on July 15th, 2017 said: I have been fighting Arthritis since I was in my early 40. I also have worked all my life. But now at 59 I just cant work, my pain is very intense. I have two herniated disk, high blood pressure and hypothyroid. I take medication for all three. After working for a company for 26 years I had to take a disability leave for a year, now that I want to come back, they terminated me last week. what are my chances for permanent disability? I have already applied but haven’t heard anything yet.

    • R.F.

      Thank you for contacting us Leigh. The length of time it takes to receive a decision on your disability claim can vary depending on several factors. Primarily, the nature of your disability and how quickly we can obtain medical evidence from your doctor or other medical sources. On an average, a medical determination can take three to five months. See Disability Determination Process for more information. People applying for disability benefits may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which they live. These services include Medicaid, free meals, housekeeping help, transportation or help with other problems. You can get information about services in your area from your state or local social services office. Or you can visit the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) web page for more information. We hope this information helps.

  6. Brooke

    My husband has been trying to file for disability for months now. Its such a painful process, no pun intended. Anyone know a good trick to speed up the process?

  7. Larry W.

    My wife was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer on May 12, 2017. She had a 6cm tumor that had formed in her brain. She had surgery on May 18, 2017 to remove the tumor. My wife was an accountant before being diagnosed. Due to the surgery and ongoing medical issues I have had to quit my job to care for her. She has to have 24/7 care. She applied for disability social security and was approved. The only problem is she will not receive her first check until December 2017. My wife has worked since she turned 18 and is now 49. We are relieved she was approved but waiting until December does nothing for us now. We have had to have the bank take one vehicle and likely to lose the 2nd. That is just the surface of what we are losing.
    My wife life expected to live 6 months from time of diagnosis. If this is correct she will pass away before any help from the system we both paid into our whole lives does any good.
    I’m almost ashamed to call myself an American at this point. It is truly shameful that our government has let her down. We have not applied for any government assistance we just want what is fairly due my wife in time to help get us through this horrible situation.

    • R.F.

      We are really sorry to hear of your wife’s medical condition and the inconveniences you’re confronting Larry. Current law requires everybody that is approved for disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program to serve a 5 month waiting period. The 5 month waiting period ensures that during the early months of disability, we do not pay benefits to persons who do not have long-term disabilities. Your wife may be eligible to receive additional assistance from the state while she is waiting for her disability payments to begin. These services include Medicaid, free meals, housekeeping help, transportation or help with other problems. You can get information about services in your area from your state or local social services office. You can also visit the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) web page for more information. We hope this information helps.

  8. Genaro L.

    Du Schreibst sehr schöne Blog einträge witze

    http://holyfun.club/

  9. Cruz W.

    Spitzen Beitrag, gefällt mir echt gut.!

    http://holyfun.club

  10. Duncan C.

    Weiter so ! Netter Beitrag 🙂

    http://holyfun.club

Comments are closed.