The Disability Insurance Program – Securing Today and Tomorrow for 60 Years
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
Social Security provides financial benefits, services, and information to help support you throughout life’s journey. On August 1, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Social Security disability insurance program.
Enacted as a part of the Social Security Amendments of 1956, the disability program is an essential lifeline for many workers and their families. People earn this benefit by working and contributing to the Social Security fund. It reinforces a deeply rooted American value – providing financial protection for those who can no longer do substantial work.
Lawmakers considered establishing the disability program as early as 1935, when Congress passed the original Social Security Act. However, policymakers could not reach consensus on how to effectively administer and fund it. Nearly twenty years later, in 1954, Congress established Social Security’s first disability program. It provided a “disability freeze” for disabled workers, which protected a worker’s retirement benefits by not penalizing workers who could not contribute to the Social Security program during periods of disability.
Some lawmakers were concerned about potential program costs, the difficulty of deciding disability claims, and the availability of other assistance. In that contentious climate, it took tough negotiations to create our modern disability program. On August 1, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the program into law.
The Social Security Act sets out a strict definition of disability. We pay benefits to people with a severe medical condition that prevents them from performing substantial work and is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Social Security does not pay benefits for partial disability or short-term disability. Social Security disability beneficiaries are among the most severely impaired in the country and are more than three times as likely to die in a given year as other people the same age.
Today, the Social Security Disability Insurance program provides a financial safety net for millions of Americans. You can visit our Faces and Facts of Disability website to read stories about people currently living with disability. With retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, Social Security is here to help you secure today and tomorrow.
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Harry
I’m disabled and been on SS for a while now if it wasn’t here . id either be dead or in a home someplace getting poor care for the poor. I’m not lieing it has saved my life .
my only complaint now is I have Sleep Apnea and told i have ton return the cpad machie because I didn’t meet compliance which is fine but thought the whole ordeal i felt like they didn’t care .I was charged for some thing i never got and received some supply’s that didn’t work on my machine the filter and tubing are not one size fits all it looks like .I’m sending it back as soon as i get the post age to that’s the other annoying thing and adds insult to injury i pay shipping back to them , they won’t let me drop it off any place in my state or let any one come pick it up sigh ….they won’t look into some charges saying i did receive some supply’s when i didn’t we all know who’s gonna end up paying that . I can go on but won’t .
Mike B.
Get in touch with SS and or Medicare. There is no way they can charge you for this as long as the doctor authorized the machine.
Harry
if you mean me they can i pay 20 % medicare pays 80 the problem and to be honest id rather return the machine then go though it all again and go cold turkey and get out more, i have other health issue but are mild compared to some i have meet i can still walk ,I have bad arthritis in my back i can only stand for 15 to 20 mins at a time .I consider my self very lucky to have what i have, i worked most of life so it’s not like i didn’t work for it, i did, i worked 7 days a week at one point not because i had to i wanted to, i liked working. and yes my DR said i didn’t want it i some how knew it would end this way . well any way that’s really my only major complaint how even the durable medical supply company’s get a way with a lot right now. i wish they would lower it to 10 /90 i all most paid off a operation i had last year to help me breath better .well like i said i need to shut up i see to much wrong with the system some times i can’t shut up .
cya
R.F.
Harry, please visit http://www.medicare.gov to learn more about Durable Medical Equipment (DME).
STEPHEN H.
Sirs,
Consider the monetary Federal Reserves strong.
Exhibit more leniency in the past employment requirements with easier access to Vocational Rehabilitation.
Be expecting unskilled Laber part-time, to be “partial disabilities”.
My money is good.
Thank You,
KING STEPHEN I
AGAR5477446.
Carmen G.
For us disabled with gait issues, we need adorable wheelchair accessible housing!
Jeff
a·dor·a·ble
/əˈdôrəb(ə)l/
adjective
adjective: adorable
inspiring great affection; delightful; charming.
“she looked just adorable”
If you meant “affordable” wheelchair accessible housing, how and in what way do you think that applies to The Social Security Administration?
I don’t understand the correlation at all and don’t get where you would even consider that this has ANYTHING to do with SSA?
Please explain, thank you.
Carmen G.
I have SSD because I’ve had MS for 18 years. The result is now cognitive impairment, chronic nerve pain, gait imbalance, major depression, anxiety, painful spasms. I used to be a chef.
David W.
I am 85 soon and almost deaf. I am a disabled veteran of Korean war.
david K.
Sir, thank you for your service.
Yvonne
I want to sincerely “Thank You” for your service, Sir.
Manuel S.
IF YOU ARE NOT COLLECTING VETERANS UN-EMPLOYABILITY COMPENSATION THEN YOU NEED TO SEE A NATIONAL SERVICE OFFICER AT THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS CENTER (DAV) LOCATED AT 8810 RIOS SAN DIEGO DR. MISSION VALLEY, GROUND FLOOR, CALL FIRST FOR DIRECTIONS, PHONE # 619-299-6916. YOU MUST TAKE THE FOLLOWING RECORDS WITH YOU-COPY OF MEDICAL RECORDS SHOWING THE DESRCIPTION OF YOUR DISABILITY, WITH A DSM CODE, AND THE PHYSICIANS SIGNATURE, DD-214, A PHOTO ID, AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.
Shirley M.
To. Whom it may concern. I thank God for allowing the President to sign the bill because I’m a Disability client and God knows without my resources I would be without anything. I pray soon that it will be a be specifically and for the Disability for Housing I’m in need of housing do the President Obama help me cause I’m in a situation where though my acting Landlord is putting me out in October I don’t have no where to go can I be helped please, thanks
Carmen G.
Amen.
Michelle
I just said a pray for you?? you should google housing assistance for the disabled and there will be several links that will give you a lot of info. You can also call your local social security office that handled or handles you Disabilty case and they can give you info. On getting help with housing.
I Pray That You Will Find The Help You Need?? GOD BLESS YOU WITH LOVE AND LIGHT??
Donovan D.
Thank you
christine h.
I’ve been on public housing list for 8 yrs. now! I’ve watched my age go from age 52, when I started waiting in public housing list & now in one mo. I’ll be 60 yrs.old.I guess they don’t think being disabled & 60 yrs.old isn’t Important for me after waiting 8 yrs. to get an apt.as being important? When I first divorced I was disabled & had 3 of my 4kids living with me,I also had parents to live with & help me.Now I’m alone a lot older more disabled & I can only guess how long I’m going to wait longer for an apt.if I ever get one.I feel I should be put up with the single moms who are on section 8. My no. On plain public housing has gone from 14 down to 10 THE to 8 & back to a 10 with no explaination? I’m just getting older & in worst shape.What are they waiting for me to die? Is that why my number has gone up to 10 in 2Mo.?? I can’t take much more!! With my number going away from getting an apt.DEPRESSION IS WORST & ASK WHY ?
Bella
I too sm disabled! I get very little in SSDI payments! I have only so much I can take out from an injury fund! There is no housing left, and there seems to be one line to get in, and its not always by need! I never thought I may one day be homeless!
Yvonne
I know, right?! I concur. 🙂
Marlene
Did you apply for Section 8?
Manuel S.
IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO BECOME HOMELESS THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO IS CALL THE HOMELESS SHELTER CENTER AT # 760-529-9979, TELL THE RECEPTIONIST YOU WILL BE HOMELESS COME OCTOBER, AND WANT TO REGISTER FOR SHELTER ASSISTANCE, THE CONTACT THE SOCIAL SECURITY & DISABILITY OFFICE AT # 619-282-1761, EXPLAIN YOUR SITUATION FOR GUIDANCE ON WHERE TO GO NEXT.
Patti
If you are over 65, you might contact Council on Aging which is a national organization throughout the United States.
April
This is not about disability, but regular social security benefits. I want to know why when my husband worked in the private sector for 20 to 23 years and paid into social security, then got a job at the schools, and since he now has a state pension, he only receives a small portion of his benefits he paid in all of those years. You tell me what is the difference in my husband doing his job and having a pension and a person working for UPS with a pension, he gets to collect all of his social security and his pension, but because my husband has a state pension he doesn’t. I think something is wrong with this.
Marlene
He may have been given a choice at the time as to whether he wanted to pay into a pension or pay into SS. What did he choose? You don’t pay into both.
April
He had a regular job for 20 to 23 years and they take out social security, when you go to the schools, they do not withhold social security and they have a pension, and what is the difference between their pension and anyone else’s pension. Believe me its not that much and why can’t he collect all of his social security he paid in? Not fair. A school employee does not have a choice of what they withhold.
John O.
Because SS payouts are weighted toward replacing a higher % of a low income worker’s income. If a substantial part of your work history is in non taxed government employment the earnings record would appear like a persons who had little or no work for 20 years. In order to correct this Congress passed a Government pension offset law. If you paid a substantial amount into SS for 30 years you’d be exempt. Call 800-772-1213 and ask for a pamphlet about this.
April
We do know about it, but still he paid in all of those years and now he cannot collect. Are you going to do the same with the people in the private sector that has pensions at their jobs, like I used UPS as an example, a guy we know works their and he was throwing around how he wants Clinton in so he can collect all of his pension and social security. No difference!
Jeff
The difference is for the state job, he didn’t pay into SSA for those years, so when he does receive a pension from work (that is NOT a job that he paid into SSA at the same time) there IS an offset.
In your circumstance, let’s take UPS for example. A person pays into SSA all of those years they are working for UPS AND they get a pension from UPS there will be NO offset.
Here is the policy explaining what you need to know https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf
Your husband falls under the WEP or Windfall Elimination Provision.
If he paid into SSA for those years he worked for the state there would be NO offset but because he didn’t, wouldn’t or couldn’t pay into SSA there IS an offset.
These are the rules and if you don’t like them or don’t agree with them, it would take an act of Congress to change them….
Feel free to contact your Congressman….
Donovan D.
Exempt legend is what?? Describe the details
JAMES C.
hope that I can get disable ss
JAMES C.
I HAD OPEN HEART SURGEY 7YRS AGO AND I AM DIEBETS HAVE A HARD TIME TO WALK HUART MY BACK IN 84 CAN NOT WORK BECAUSE I HAVE TIME TO BREATH
Manuel S.
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY, BUT YOU WOULD NEED TO APPLY FOR IT TO FIND OUT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE.
SAD S.
SSA has cleaned up their Administration finally! This is not free money. If someone has worked, & is fully paid into the system, they qualify. But, this new Administration is locking down & sending people to prison. You have people who applied, & went back to their country, & those who are still working being caught & sent to prison. I’m glad that they’re (SSA) is doing what’s right by firing those who’s corruption will destroy something that’s worked for more than 80 years. People who have to ask if they could possibly receive benefits apparently has not worked, are not fully paid into the system, & truly believes that Free Money is given by SSA, which is not TRUE! SSA is now doing their jobs, finally. Sending claimants back to their doctors, verifying if disability still exists…go to http://www.oig.ssa.gov/fraud investigations
Richard1950
I fully Agree with you I started working at the age of 15 in a hospital were someone gave me a fair change and work others jobs until I turn 50years and became disabled and couldn’t work anymore and all I get is $ 183.00 for SSI and $572.00 for SSA it hard try to live with so little money ..
Mike B.
Absolutely applyfor it. IF you are approved the SSA would decide which procedure is considered the primary reason. Then, if you can prove (usually by way of your doctors certification as to your date of disability AND what is the exact prognosis), you are well on your way. SSA will probably have you go to one of their doctors to confirm your doctors findings. The great newsis that you will get paid from a period of 6 months after the certification by your doctor through now. Payments made are divided at least every 6 to 8 months apart because any other way Uncle Sam would be paying you a visit and yes SSD IS 50% taxable once you hit the the trigger for your tax rate.
Kathy D.
If your 100% disabled do you still have to pay taxes?
Carmen G.
No.
John O.
Yes you do if you have tax liability.
Mike B.
SSD is added to your income and if you exceed the income limit based on your total income, you would pay taxes on 50% of the Disability payments.
R.F.
For information about taxation of benefits, visit our Benefits Planner: Income Taxes And Your Social Security Benefits. For income tax related questions, we suggest individuals contact the IRS directly. Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040.
Manuel S.
WE ALL PAY TAXES ON OUR SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME.
IF YOU ARE A MILITARY SERVICE CONNECTED DISABLED VETERAN AND RECEIVING DISABILITY COMPENSATION FOR YOUR SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY CONDITION THIS COMPENSATION IS NOT TAXABLE AND SHOULD NOT REPORT IT AS INCOME, BECAUSE IT IS NOT ” INCOME” BY FEDERAL LAW.
Marlene
Since when do we pay taxes on social security?
John O.
Since 1984.
R.F.
For information about taxation of benefits, visit our Benefits Planner: Income Taxes And Your Social Security Benefits. For income tax related questions, we suggest individuals contact the IRS directly. Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040.
John O.
You only pay income tax on SS if your income exceeds a certain threshold.
R.F.
For information about taxation of benefits, visit our Benefits Planner: Income Taxes And Your Social Security Benefits. For income tax related questions, we suggest individuals contact the IRS directly. Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040.
SAD S.
True, it can’t be taxed, but please explain to me why there’s so many “Vets” who receive benefits from US Army, SSA & work? Some served as little as 3 years. I served 10 years, siblings 20yrs & 30yrs….I consider them VETERANS….I thank everyone who served, those injured, & those who didn’t return, but to really see how SSA, IRS & all of our gov’t agencies are failing. SSA failed me for 14 yrs, while the facilitator received my benefits. If I sound bitter, it’s because I am. http://www.oig.ssa.gov/fraud investigations……Many people think this is free money, but having worked over 40 yrs, getting royally screwed for 14 yrs & SSA finally realized they’ve got thieves working among them. I THANK GOD FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA’S OPEN ADMINISTRATION. Log into the website listed above….it’ll scare the bejezzies out of you. As for me, still waiting, about to be homeless again, even though I’m paid into system over 40 years…….SUCKS!
Sam A.
You must be kidding! President Obama being “Open and Transparent”??? When did that happen? Not in my lifetime!
BGP
Who or what is a facilitator that collected YOUR SS money?
Tired
Ive tried several times to go to the link you provided. And each time it says “website unavailable”.
R.F.
The SSA OIG Fraud Hotline: https://oig.ssa.gov/report-fraud-waste-or-abuse/fraud-waste-and-abuse.
Richard1950
Here here right on my brother… I myself worked at the age of 15 in a hospital and 5years as an EMT /parmedic until I became 50 and became disabled and couldn’t work any more and all I get from my check is $183.00 plus $570 for my SSA …But when I people come from other countries get much more money than me who almost all my life and they only in The US a short month or year and getting this really p me off
R.F.
For information about taxation of benefits, visit our Benefits Planner: Income Taxes And Your Social Security Benefits. For income tax related questions, we suggest individuals contact the IRS directly. Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040.
Celeste C.
CORRECT
Tony S.
Taxation depends on income. If Judy Chesser is recused from the Social Security Amendments of January 1, 2016 email list for bribery, graft and conflict of interest regarding Congressional propaganda for depriving the people of their subsistence does she contribute the modest disability death rate of about 6 per 1,000 to OSHA career death rate statistics? I regret that due to her Congressional abuse of the words “severely disability” Judy Chesser must be recused from her position as my liaison to the “legislature” that is corrupted by disability determination by licensed psychologists who ask only to be abolished under the Paperwork Reduction Act, in furtherance of their mutual tax evasion http://www.title24uscode.org/ssi.htm. In her exuberance to report disability beneficiary death rates to the murderess HHS she has failed her professional responsibility to abolish disability determination under the Paperwork Reduction act. Judy Chesser works for OSHA, she may not be arbitrarily arrested, detained or exiled. I don’t feel fine. Judy Chesser is one of the most skilled staticians in SSA but is somewhat wanting in the right of all peoples to self-determination department to teach Congress to uphold Common Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 23 March 1976 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 3 January 1976 provide (1) All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. (2) All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.
Carol p.
when people have carpal tunnel the companies go out there and they try to match this they act like it’s only like 4% of the total body I have permanent partially disabled by my doctor the state determined disabled without an attorney and my job could not accommodate me and I could not get no one to stand behind me to help me out so somebody needs to make sure that this is not done to anyone else
Carol p.
Guinness when you’re disabled recover Channel your attorney tells you you got what year did deserved disability
Roy L.
Does the IRS get a copy of my 1099 for disability each year when I do, with my direct deposit information?