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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Alicia
My daughter is 51 and is bipolar, narcolepsy, has had left knee replacement and due for right knee, diabetic. She was in a verbal and mental marriage for 25 years, has been divorced 2. She has everything documented and her psychartist says she can’t ever work again due to her issues. You never know what person you are dealing with everyday. She has been denied and appealed last December and still no hearing.
Ray F.
We are sorry to hear about your daughter’s medical conditions Alicia. The length of time it takes to get a hearing can vary from state to state. We attempt to resolve all claims promptly, but there may be delays due to the volume of pending appeals in your area. The good news is that we are trying to conduct many of our hearings through video teleconferencing (VTC) to speed up the process. Visit our “Hearing And Appeals” web page for more information, and continue working with your local hearing office on specific questions about your case. Thanks !
Deborah A.
I have the beginning of COPD, stage 3 liver disease, diabetic, had 4-bypass surgery, had thyroid cancer, put on oxygen due to 30 % lung use would I be able to file for disability? Several years ago I took an early Social Security draw, would that hinder the disability? Are you allow to draw both disability & Social Security? I live in Texas and not sure whether to start an any help or advise will be greatly appreciated. I am 65 yrs old, married but my husband has retired early due to medical problems so we leave on a fixed income. Thanking you in advance for your help.
Ray F.
Hi Deborah. We are sorry to hear about your medical situation. You can apply for Disability Benefits before you reach your full retirement age. Disability payments are established at the highest rate possible, meaning you could get a higher monthly benefit amount. We can continue paying your retirement benefits while we consider your application and wait for a medical decision.
We pay disability benefits through two programs: the Social Security disability insurance program (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is a needs based disability program that pays benefits to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. To be eligible for SSI, we count your total household income.
In addition to meeting our definition of disability, you must have worked long enough–and recently enough–under Social Security to qualify for disability benefits. For more information and to see if you should apply for disability benefits, we urge you to contact your local office or call us at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and ask one of our representatives to assist you. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. We hope this information helps you.
Dollie D.
I’ve just been told I’ve got 3rd stage kidney. Which after my stay in the hospital it is now 4th stage. I have edema. Sometimes so bad it is hard to stand and do my work. Right now I work 3 days a week. I also draw survivors widow benefits from SS. Could I get disability to help cause if it gets worse to stand and work I will have to quit and I can not live on what I get for my monthly benefits.
lynnb
I just read a article regarding mental illness and Social security. It stated that 27% of ss beneficiaries receive benefits due to mental illness. My son is 33 and we have been fighting for three years to get him disability due to major depression, social anxiety, defiance disorder, bipolar as well as degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis and morbid obesity he is 6 feet tall and weighs in excess of 400 pounds. He takes 21 pills a day to control mood swings, pain in his back and can not stand more than 5 minutes. Dailey living activities are difficult for him ie such as taking a shower.
My question is why are they putting him through waiting indefinitely for a decision. He won’t get a whole lot of money but I feel that he should not have to wait so long. He has done everything they have asked him to do and is still waiting. It has been in excess of 4 months and the lawyer tells us that they can take as long as they want to make a decision.
If SS is there to help those that need it then why aren’t they helping?
Gary H.
Are Disability payments late this month ?? Mine is usually paid on the 11th when there is a weekend of holiday coming up it’s paid before .It is now Tuesday the 13th & I have not received my payment . is there a problem & should I contact my local office or ??
James L.
Gary, if your regular payment date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, we send your benefits the business day before your due date. Please visit our Schedule of Social Security Payments for future pay dates. If you still haven’t received your disability check by the time you see this, please contact your local office.
Marina
I have been on SSDI for almost 19 yrs. for various mental illnesses. I feel so blessed after reading these posts. I don’t make much with my check. I am 54 & my spouse left me 6 yrs ago. I’m in the process of a review & I am afraid. I know the only reason I haven’t given up on life is because I am a Christian. God is bigger than the U.S. Government. If you don’t believe in Jesus and prayer, it is your choice. I can only say that prayer and my faith keeps me-the person with mental illnesses-relatively sane while dealing with a system that has been overwhelmed for decades. Not to excuse the denials I’ve just read about at all. Especially to our brave Veterans that are treated worse than animals by the very same government that accepted them without hesitation when they were sent to fight. These people should be paid more than any politician. I have a son who is turning 18 this month. His benefits were stopped because they say he isn’t a full time student, but he is & we sent in all the required forms, so we are appealing their decision. He has to sign up for Selective Service or he is breaking a Federal law. Most days I can’t leave our home or take care of myself, and I think “how dare they turn down his money we need to buy food with but threaten him with prison if he doesn’t sign up to fight a possible future war?” Not much that happens in this world makes sense. I thank my God for promising me, His child, and anybody who believes in His Son, an eternity in Paradise. God Bless all of you.
Stanley H.
I wear hearing aids cost me over $3000.05 years ago I need no want to go apply for Medicaid over and over and over in the state of Florida doesn’t come easy to get . My social security income is only 1000 a month I have to see a doctor I was paying $85 and 65 for a follow up . I’ve got the doctor straightened out but the hairnets I don’t know what to do . I forgot to tell my last report that I filled out I have diabetes I’ve got it under control . High blood pressure cholesterol is out on the control I blood pressure was 200/100 before I move down here to Florida . When we moved here we paid cash for the house in a use car the good thing I did all those things at that time . I went to the state and asked for help the lady told me that this benefits are not for me there for low income and I’m thinking that’s me I only make $1000 a month . She’s telling me that is for people that were not trying to save money . I never made much money because of all of my disabilities
Stanley H.
I have several disabilities . Always did help filling out these type of things until now took the bull by the horn’s I’m Doing it my self . Because of that I never applied for any disabilities . I love I had a lot of extra money . I have doctors proof of arthritis my ankles my hips my neck so at age 53 I had to get out of work . It was the fall of 2002 I asked my wife about applying and she told me they’re not gonna give me anything so don’t waste your time . I did some part-time work that you would my wife’s employer And after a couple years that company brought me on with more hours . I was also bond with a bad hair loss I don’t hear anything without my garnets I paid over $3000 with credit card of course . What brought it to my attention to look in on us my neighbor . Has not worked since the 80s and he’s collecting twice as much is me . He collected disability all those years while I was working . It does not feel like I’ve been getting a fair shake here . My Social Security only pays me 1000 a month I cannot live my life and be very happy with not enough money . I give you permission to speak to my wife and I do not hear well on the phone thank you and please help .
John K.
I’m sorry to say but if you are getting $1,000 a month from Social Security I would consider you as lucky. My husband worked here for his 40 quarters and he also worked in a foreign country with a Social Security agreement with America, and he only gets $730 a month for his social security, and they also give him $54 a month for SSI. I would find out about if you are eligible for SSI extra money but if you get 1,000 I don’t think they will even get you SNAP.
Stacey
I have been disabled since 2010. I am a 56 yr old woman. I was waitresing and my feet went very bad. I have had a total of 5 surgeries on both feet, 4 of them on the right one. I had to have my right hip totally replaced 2 yrs ago. Due to walking and working on poor feet, my left hip also needs to be replaced, and surgery on my left foot. One yr ago I had my 3 rd surgery on my rt foot, they put in a plate and screws and lengthend my achilles tendon. I just had another surgery, same foot, to remove the hard wear they put in, and replace it, because it had shifted.I really don’t know if this will help, but I do know I will not put myself through the same thing on my left side. My feet are so painful just to stand on, let alone walk on them.I’m also deaf in my left ear, following a sinus infection in 2010.Had shoulder surgery, due to carrying heavy trays of food. I am depressed and also have anxiety. I see a psychiatrist and a counselor to help get me through this. I am on a plethra of medications also. Two are for pain, class 2 narcotics, and anti-depressants, vitamins, sleeping aids, you name it and I probably have it. I was finally granted medicaid in 2012, and they retrod back to July of 2010, when I had to stop working. I have no other skills. If I sit for more than 10 minutes, my feet go numb, even driving they go numb, especially the left foot that isn’t being use, I also have developed an issue with my eyes now too.. I know I don’t qualify for SSD, my work credits don’t show me working for 5 or more yrs recently. Even though I have, just not in that time period. I was recently abandoned by my husband of 31 yrs, on June 8, 2008. I am now the sole supporter, and it is very hard to make ends meet. I have had help from family, but that will be coming to an end soon. SNAP benefits of 194.00 a month, and alimony of 652.00 a month. Thank God for medicaid, my meds are only a dollar a piece. Trying to get on section 8, no openings. I need help with my rent, which is 550.00 a month. So do the math, it doesn’t leave me with much for gas, elec, car ins, plates for my car, let alone clothes on my back. I don’t know what is taking so long to get a determination for SSI.I last filed in July of 2015, and two other times before that, after 2010.I need assistance, and fast. The apt I live in accepts sec 8, but since they are not taking any new applications for two more years, its no good for me. SOMEBODY HELP ME OUT HERE.
MJean
Why do so many people start getting disability soon after their unemployment checks run out?
It looks very suspicious, as if disability benefits are much too easy to get!
John K.
No, Disability checks are not easy to get! It may seem that way to you as an outsider but I had to have 2 heart attacks and an ejection fraction below 30 and be totally disabled before I got Disability. I did get a few unemployment checks from my last job when my severance pay ran out, but it was just a coincidence that my social security disability started when my unemployment checks ran out. And I had to see a special Social Security doctor and also see a Psychiatrist before I was approved.