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.
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Tags: Disability, SSA
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Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
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Susan
I was wondering if they deamed me disabled why can I not get Medicare BC since I wads turn down twice now I have to have oxygen an d breathing treatment and my husband is disabled he needs me to take care of him please answer why for me thank you
R.F.
Hi Susan. Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Certain people younger than age 65 can qualify for Medicare, too, including those with disabilities and those who have permanent kidney failure. To learn more, read our Medicare publication.
Kelly J.
I am considered disabled. I went to a doctor and he gave me a different kind of seizure medication, on top of some other meds, resulting in me going into a coma and making my disability worse. What can I do?
J.Y.
We are very sorry to hear about your condition. Social Security pays disability benefits to people who are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last one year or more or end in death. You can immediately apply online for disability benefits at http://ssa.gov/pgm/disability.htm.
If you are already receiving Social Security Disability benefits, we base your benefit amount on the average lifetime earnings before your disability began, (or those of certain family members) when those earnings are insured under Social Security. Each year we review the records for all Social Security recipients who work and will refigure your benefit, if applicable. We hope this is helpful.
Donna W.
Can a disabled person get assistance with housekeeping and cooking chores?
Alvin S.
I am on Disability and My wife Has ESRD “Kidney Failure” She is on Hemo dialysis which qualifies her for Disability under section “6.03 Genitourinary Disorders – Adult”. We are both under the age of 62 and before my disability I was the bread winner. My question is Can my wife draw disability off of my work record because she doesn’t have the work credits and if so is there a max family benefit for the two of us? It is just her and myself our children are grown with families of their own.
janitorial f.
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Dennis H.
Was wondering if I can get help with house payment and utilities while I am on a 6week total disability, am 66 and drawing SS already
Candy
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home h.
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Paul O.
SSDI expects me to do without for 5 month WAITING PERIOD!!!!!!
Demetrius H.
I have a question if your getting ssa and you have a hearing in same month after you get your checks can social security administration stop your check til the hearing?