There’s Plenty You Should Know About Social Security Disability Benefits!
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: March 17, 2021
Life is unpredictable. When something interrupts your plans, it’s good to know there’s a way to supplement your income, in case of an unexpected life event.
Social Security has a strict definition of disability based on your inability to work and provide for yourself and your family. Disability benefits are available only to people with impairments so severe that they prevent any kind of significant, profitable work. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.
We pay disability via two programs: the Social Security Disability Insurance program, for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough to be eligible, and the Supplemental Security Income program, which pays benefits based on financial need.
When you apply for either program, we will collect medical and other information from you. Our disability examiners will make a decision about whether or not you can do work that you did before, adjust to other work because of your medical condition, and if your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or is likely to result in death.
Certain factors may speed or delay the decision in your case, like the nature of your disability and how quickly we can get your medical records. We may also need to send you for an additional medical examination at no cost to you.
If you would like to apply for disability benefits, you can use our online application. It has several advantages, including immediately starting the process, no waiting to get an appointment, and no trip to a Social Security Office. It’s easy, convenient, and secure.
You can find out everything there is to know about disability benefits online.
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Tags: Disability, Social Security benefits, social security disability benefits, SSI, supplemental security income
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Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
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julio
e: – COMPANY THROWS OUT 50 years: TEAMSTERS FROM PROPERTY VIOLATED EVERY ARTICLE IN THE CONTRACT?===TEAMSTERS local 439 in Stockton CA file a GRIEVANCE on 12/17/2010 to SAFEWAY TRACY CA to put employee back to work on 12/17/2010.-SAFEWAY TRACY CA DID not comply. I have a copy of the GRIEVANCE. Discipline to be DENIED on 12/17/2010. NULL & VOID FINAL & BINDING-still not working. NEED TO HIRE An ATTORNEY TO ARBITRATE MY CASE.—SAFEWAY accused me falsified logs—see internet DOT—logs–tamper proof. 395.15 Reg. false statement by SAFEWAY. ———-can you help please–50 years in the union, time limits where not met—(not within 10 days or 20 days—no register mail) 500 union employee, if the grievance not within 10 days union employee is put back to work, why not me? ===DEAF=====need hearing aide. low back pain etc====refuse to put me back to work. end===HAD to take a work comp. settlement.
Chris
I have a question.
I am trying to understand what is my best option here. I was recently medically retired from the Army after 5 years for a leg injury in a training exercise. I went through a medical board for a whole year and got 90% overall disabled for more than 1 disability from the VA.
I work at a warehouse now as an intermittent employee, no more than 25 hours a week and I am hurting myself quite a bit with all of the lifting, bending, and physical demands the job requires. I thought I would be able to physically maintain a job, but I am not sure I can anymore. Looking for some help and asking around, my friend who is retired military keeps telling me to apply for SSDI because he just recently did and is going to help him a lot more.
There are desk jobs and computer jobs that I could do, but so far I have been having issues trying to get into certain jobs due to lack of experience and lack of position availability. Recently applied for Vocational rehabilitation program from the VA, but waiting a while and I really need to get a different job before I destroy myself more than I have to.
My main question is, being a lot and way younger, would it negatively affect me if I do apply for SSD benefits? Is it better to try to get a desk job and work as much as I can or will it not make a difference at all if I apply for it now than applying for it when I am much older?
Thank you.
Chris
I am 28 years old, sorry to miss important information.
Thank you again.
R.F.
First of all, we want to thank you for your service to our country Chris. Please keep in mind that the Social Security Act sets out a very strict definition of disability, much different than the requirements for other government programs including veterans benefits. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or short-term disability. Disability benefits are paid 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. However, if a person thinks that he or she meets our definition of disability, we encourage them to apply for disability benefits when they become disabled. A person may still be eligible for disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program if they work. However, their earnings cannot exceed a certain amount. This is called the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit. In 2017, the SGA limit is $1,170 per month (or $1,950 for blind applicants). In addition to the amount of money you make, Social Security may also look at the number of hours you’re able to work. For more information visit our “Frequently Asked Questions” web page on disability. We hope this information helps!
Chris
Thank for a fast reply, just have one more question after reading this. Since I am trying to get better, going through therapy, treatment, surgery and such. If I get approved for example, and along the years I get better or change my career to something I can possibly do, ie go to university for another career to do something less physically demanding. Would there be a problem if I go back to work normally? Can I remove SSDI benefits completely if I believe I can get better future wise?
Or is it something that I will not be able to do anymore because I am already receiving SSDI?
Thank you, sorry for the many questions your answer helped me greatly.
R.F.
No problem Chris. In general, your benefits will continue as long as you are disabled. However, the law requires Social Security to conduct disability reviews periodically to see if individuals receiving disability benefits are still disabled. How often we review cases depends on the individual’s medical condition. Also, even though the Social Security Act sets out a very strict definition of disability, we have work provisions that can encourage people on disability to return to the work force and fulfill their desire to be productive. For more information about your continuing eligibility, please visit our Disability Planner: Reviewing Your Disability. We hope this information helps!
Betty D.
Social Security is wonderful if you are also not a Texas teacher. My husband and I were married for over 60 years, 50 of those years we owned an independent business and MATCHED his 7 employees SS as well as his own. I was a teacher to supplement our income. When he died in July 2016, I was informed that as a Texas teacher receiving a TRS retirement income, I would be ineligible for his survivor’s benefits. I get “0” from the social security paid in over all of those years plus some. Yes, I receive my teacher retirement (which isn’t much), but I get NONE of the spouse’s survivor’s social security benefits! I am on my own!
Fed U.
I’m a 100% p/t disabled service-connected veteran denied twice for SSDI and now I’m informed my “work credits” have expired, so that’s it. Game over. Guess that’s how the SA wins.
Lo
My brother retired from a job in Dietary transporting Food Carts with the V A Hospital. Can he apply for SS or SSI? He can not work due to extensive medical reasons.
R.F.
Thank you for your question Lo. We pay disability benefits through two programs: Social Security Disability Insurance(SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income(SSI). The SSI program is a needs-based program that pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. SSDI benefits are based on earnings and are not subject to income and resource limits. The Social Security Act sets out a strict definition for disability. 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. However, if a person thinks that he or she meets our definition of disability, we encourage them to apply for disability benefits when they become disabled. You can help him apply online, which is quick and easy. He can also apply by calling our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Or he can contact his local Social Security office directly.
Lynn
Hello,
I would like to know if individuals receiving SSDI receive the COLA increase for 2017? We did not receive one for 2016, and now it looks as though we won’t receive one for 2017.
Please let me know why we are not being granted an increase this year.
Thank you.
R.F.
Hi Lynn. The 0.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to monthly Social Security benefits began in January 2017. The COLA adjustment for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits was effective in December 30, 2016. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this forum. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
NC
My husband and I are 50 and have been married for 10 years. He has not worked in over 12 years due to a variety of health conditions, and it now appears that he will never be able to do so. He does meet the definition of disabled, but doesn’t have any work credits in the past 12 years. Is there any way for him to qualify for disability in these circumstances aside from waiting until he’s 62 and applying for retirement against my benefits?
R.F.
Thank you for your question. If someone is not insured for “regular” disability benefits (SSDI), he or she may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI is a needs based program that pays benefits to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page for more information. To see if your husband should apply for SSI benefits, please 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.
tony
The SSA probably doesn’t understand how much fraud there is in mental illness cases.
It is very easy to get disability for mental illness. All you have to do is make a couple of visits to the psychiatrist/psychologist office. Before you leave the office, you will have several diagnosis and several medications to go with the diagnosis.
A psychologist told me that I can go to any psychiatrist/psychologist and tell them the symptoms I am experiencing and they would believe me and prescribe me the medications. I thought he was lying, but it was true.
I didn’t even bother to tell them the symptoms. I just told them that I was receiving Social Security disability and I was approved for a specific mental disorders. They wrote down the mental disorders and prescribed me the medication.
They asked me a series of questions relating to the diagnosis. All I have to say is yes and they would write it down.
The CE exam for Social Security disability is about the same. They would ask you the questions and you would say yes or no. They rush you through the exam and it might only last less than 15 minutes.
The CE exam psychologist just writes down what you wrote down in your Adult Function Report or medical records because they are not going to waste a bunch of time to be reimburse about $140 for the CE exam.
The psychiatrist /psychologist gets more than that per doctor visit. They tell the applicant that they are going to get a good review. Then they give them their business card hoping that they will come to them for treatment.
They don’t have enough patients. That is why they are doing CE exams. It is all about the money. There is no treatment during the CE exam.
tony
The group that should be forced to participate in Vocational Rehabilitation is people with agoraphobia and anxiety. Systematic desensitization, also known as graduated exposure therapy is a type of behavior therapy used in the field of psychology to help effectively overcome phobias and other anxiety disorders. Exposed them to what they fear.
The SSA just baby them and give them a disability check every month for the rest of their lives.
tony
Does the SSA pay people who have a fear of work? Egrophobia is a mental disorder just like agoraphobia and anxiety.
A fear of work would definitely make a person unable to work more than a person with agoraphobia or anxiety.
The SSA is a sucker for these mental disorders.
tony
Social Security disability attracts fraudsters from everywhere. Fake auto accident injury, pain management(pill mill), Veteran Administration, Short and long-term disability insurance companies, worker compensation, unemployment, public and private pension retirees looking for disability as another early retirement, prisoners release program, TANF(welfare), etc.
There are so many fraudsters from all these programs applying for Social Security disability. Social Security disability is plagued with fraud.