Social Security uses a step-by-step process involving five questions: Are you working? If you are and your earnings average more than $700 a month, you generally cannot be considered disabled. Is your condition severe? Your impairments must interfere with basic work-related activities for your claim to be considered. Is your condition found in the list of disabling impairments? Social Security maintains a list of impairments for each of the major body systems that are so severe they automatically mean you are disabled. If your condition is not on the list, it has to decide if it is of equal severity to an Impairment on the list. If it is, your claim is approved. If it is not, go to the next step. Can you do the work you did previously? If your condition is severe, but not at the same or equal severity as an impairment on the list, then Social Security must determine if it interferes with your ability to do the work you did in the last 15 years. If it does not, your claim will be denied. If it does, your claim will be considered further. Can you do any other type of work? If you cannot do the work you did in the last 15 years, we then look to see if you can do any other type of work. Social Security considers your age, education, past work experience and transferable skills, and reviews the job demands of occupations as determined by the Department of Labor. If you cannot do any other kind of work, your claim will be approved. If you can, your claim will be denied.
What kind of disability benefits does Social Security pay?
People who are severely disabled may be eligible for monthly benefits under one or more of the programs Social Security administers. The Social Security and SSI programs provide a monthly income for people with severe disabilities. However, the nonmedical eligibility requirements for the two programs are different. The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program pays benefits to disabled workers and their families. To be eligible for SSDI, you must be disabled and must have earned a minimum number of credits from work covered under Social Security. The required number of credits varies depending on your age at the time you became disabled. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides monthly income to people who are age 65 or older or are blind or have other disabilities and have limited income and financial resources. Effective January 2001, the SSI payment for an eligible individual is $530 per month and $796 per month for an eligible couple. If you are married, and only one person is eligible, a portion of your spouse's income may be counted. In addition, your financial resources (savings and assets you own) cannot exceed $2,000 ($3,000 if married). You can be eligible for SSI even if you have never worked in employment covered under Social Security. No SSI benefits are paid to family members, only to the person with disabilities. Generally, to be eligible for SSI, an individual also must be a resident of the United States and must be a U.S. citizen or a noncitizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Also, some noncitizens granted a special status by the Immigration and Naturalization Service may be eligible.
What is the difference between Social Security disability and SSI?
This is confusing to a lot of people because both programs are administered by the Social Security Administration. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program that workers, employers and the self-employed pay for with their Social Security taxes. You qualify for these benefits based on your work history and the amount of your benefit is based on your earnings. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a program financed through general tax revenues -- not through Social Security trust funds. SSI disability benefits are paid to people who have a disability and who don't own much or have a lot of income.
