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.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Comments

  1. Danita E.

  2. LINDA G.

    I THINK THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO SERVED MY COUNTRY FOR 8 YEARS GOT OUT RAISED A SON, AT 49 WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SCLERODERMA. BROKE MY WRIST SO BAD ONE YEAR HAVE PLATE AND SREWES TOOK 7 MONTHS OF THERAPY JUST TO GET ALMOST 90% I HAVE CPRS IN MY ANKLE FOR LIFE HEART MURMUR, HARD TIME SWALLOWING BECAUSE OF THE SCLERODERMA SCOLIOSIS AND TO TOP IT OFF NOW I HAVE TWO VERY SEVERY TYPES OF SLEEP APNEA ONE WHERE I STOP BREATHING EVERY MINUTE AND A HALF AND THE OTHER I FOUND OUT IS IEVEN WORSE IT IS CALLED CENTRAL SLEEP APNEA WHERE MY BRAIN JUST JUST STOPS AND DOES NOT KNOW TO TELL MY BODY TO BREATH. SO EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE EVEN MORE THINGS TO ADD ABOUT MY HEALTH I KNOW IT MATTER VERY LITTLE IN VENTING ANY OF THIS AS I REMEMBER GOING TO THE VA OFFICE IN MICHIGAN WHEN I LIVED THERE WITH ONLY MY DISEASE AND A FEW MORE OTHER HEALTH ISSUES AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD I AM SO SORRY YOU DON’T HAVE THE WORK HISTORY YOU FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS . EACH YEAR YOU GET A SSN STATEMENT IN THE MAIL TELLING YOU OF YOU WORK HISTORY AND BENEFITS WHY HECK ALL I WOULD HAVE TO DO IS WORK STATE WORKING RIGHT NOW FOR 20 YEARS TO START RECEIVING ANY SOCIAL SOCIAL BENEFITS LETS SEE I AM 62 NOW I WOULD BE 82 IF I COULD WORK HUMMMMMMMM IT IS JUST A SME HOW OUR SYSTEM WORKS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAR LESS . SIGNED OLD DISAPOINTED AND VENTING

  3. Rivka K.

  4. Shannon &.

    My husband has been seeing a doctor for 2 years. He has been unemployed sense February 2019. He tried to get unemployment but was denied. They cut are snap benefits because he can’t work. I also can’t work due to the fact that I have no one to sit with my husband while I am at work. His sugar runs very high 800 to 900. I stepped out to get my laundry one day gone maybe 10min only to come back and find my husband of 18yrs unresponsive. I ended up with two ambulances and 7 rescue trucks in my yard. He has not had his medicine going on 5 weeks because Medicaid can’t get it together. I don’t understand how you can use it once and then be told you are denied as you are at your Dr appointment and can’t be seen. NOW SOMEONE TELL ME HOW BAD OFF DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO GET SOME HELP? We have worked all are lives. I was in healthcare for 30yrs. My husband’s last job of 8 yrs was a manual lathe operator. Never been nor have asked for help in the whole we have been married. And now we are turned away like the pleg and treated even worse. We broke down here 2yrs ago. We went from being homeless living in a 2 person tent to owning are home. Someone please tell me what is wrong with this picture????? By the way he is only 46yrs old I am 50. This was not how I wanted to remember turning 50 this July. I didn’t even get a card for the simple fact couldn’t afford it. Are nearest family member is 17 hrs away so no we have no one. But are selves. Please don’t forget us. We are good people. We are usually the ones on the side of helping. Not asking for help. Thank you, sincerely Michael and Shannon Mowen.

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Shannon. We are sorry to hear about your husband’s condition and your situation. Unfortunately, but for security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. For assistance with Medicaid, you will need to call your state medical office. To get the local phone number, call the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at 1-800-633-4227 (TTY, 1-877-486-2048). We hope this is resolved soon.

  5. Julia B.

    I called local social security office after securing 1000 pages of my medical history. was greeted with a rude woman who said I was 68 and to old to get anything but my social security which since to medical emergency where my main artery into heart let go and now they say I cannot do anything I went thru death to come back and told I cannot work and told I am to old to get assistance right now. my social does not cover all my rent HELP somebody care please

  6. Steven R.

    I have enpfaziema,although at some point,which I’ll be retired, I will not be able to work to offset my income, which I Know I’ll need more money than I will get from my pension and social security put together.! Can I apply for a medical disability to help me with my money situation? Or am I Definately going to be screwed????

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Steven. If you are receiving retirement benefits from Social Security, you can apply for disability; however, if you are approved for disability, you will only receive disability not both. Social Security pays disability benefits to people if they have a medical condition that has prevented them from working or is expected to prevent them from working for at least 12 months. We use the same five-step process to make a decision on each application. For more information about the process, visit here. We hope this helps.

  7. Angela M.

    15 years ago fell 40ft ironworker. Severe head injury, wrists,elbow. Head injury resulted in losing use of one eye. Worked alone through all mental issues. Now living with AFib on cardvedil, to Lisinopril,sotaloll, Xarelto and amlodipine. Twice a day. Most say do not drive or operate machinery. He can’t get help but yet someone who just have hip surgery can. Please explain. Thanks a hard worker trying to keep us insured.

  8. michael d.

    I have lost all practical sight in my left eye. does that qualify me for disability? if yes, what information do I need to get from my ophthalogy surgeon?

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Michael. We pay disability benefits through two programs: the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must have worked long enough and recently enough in jobs covered by Social Security (usually within the last 10 years). The (SSI) program is a needs based program that gives cash assistance to disabled individuals with limited income and resources. 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. If you think you may be eligible to receive disability benefits and would like to apply, you can use our online application.

      Applying online for disability benefits offers several advantages:
      • You can start your disability claim immediately. There is no need to wait for an appointment.
      • You can apply from the convenience of your home, or on any computer; and
      • You can avoid trips to a Social Security office, saving you time and money.

      If you are unable to file online, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday to make an appointment. For more information visit our “Frequently Asked Questions” web page on disability.

  9. Rodney S.

    how do I get proof of my disability from ssn? I need it for an exemption on my property taxes.

  10. jerry t.

    can i get extra help if i have parkinson

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