Social Security Disability Overview

To qualify for social security disability benefits, you must have "a physical or mental impairment that is expected to keep you from doing any substantial work for at least a year" - or a condition that is expected to result in your death. Generally, $800 or more of monthly earnings are considered to be "substantial."

You should file a claim for disability benefits as soon as possible. Although in most cases the monthly disability benefits do not begin until the sixth full month of your disability, you can get the process started so that when the waiting period is satisfied, the benefits can be paid.

Social security disability benefits can be reduced if you get workers' compensation or other government disability benefits. The sum of all disability payments to you and your family is not supposed to exceed 80% of your averaged earning before you became disabled.

Social security disability benefits continue unless your condition improves or you return to substantial work. There are special rules which offer incentives to disabled persons to try working without the risk of a sudden loss of the monthly benefits and the Medicare coverage.

If you are disabled and you qualify, you may be able to receive assistance from the United States government under either the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, or both at the same time.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits

SSDI pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are injured and otherwise qualify for the benefits. To qualify, you must have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.

Many of us do not worry about becoming disabled, but studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 3-in-10 chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age. Therefore, it is important for most of us to have a safety net in case we become disabled. Social Security is one such net; disability insurance from private insurance companies is another.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits

SSI is designed to help aged, blind and disabled people who have little or no income. It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter.

Eligibility requirements

To get disability insurance, you must have worked in jobs where you paid social security taxes and have a medical condition that meets the government requirements. In general, you can get monthly cash payments if you cannot work for one year or more because of a disability.

Whether you can get SSI depends on where you live, your income and the things you own. To learn more about the exact requirements, see the government’s rules for getting SSI or contact a lawyer who can help you through what many people consider to be complicated government rules.

Termination of benefits

Disability insurance payments will usually continue until you are able to work again on a regular basis. Other rules called “work incentives” provide other cash and health care benefits to help you go back to work. If you receive social security disability benefits when you reach retirement age, they will automatically change to retirement benefits, but the amount will be the same.

SSI payments will be stopped if you earn more than a certain monthly amount.