Researching benefits for people with disability

My research with SSI has led me to finding information about benefits for people with a disability, specifically SSI disability.

How to qualify:

• Must have worked jobs covered by social security long enough and recently.

  • you earn credits based on your total yearly wages or self-employment income and credits change from year to year. In 2008, for every $1050 of your wage or income, you one credit.

  • number of work credit required differs with age

• Have a total disability defined as:

  • cannot do work that you did before

  • you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition AND

  • your disability has lasted or is expected to last at least an year or result in death

• How Social Security decides if you are disabled

  1. If you are working, your earnings in 2008, must be less than $940/month.

  2. Condition must be severe enough to interfere with basic work related activities.

  3. If your condition is on the list of medical conditions, it automatically means you are disabled.

• Exceptions

  • People who are blind

  • Benefits for widows or widowers

  • Benefits for disabled children

  • Disability Benefits for wounded warriors

Three ways to apply for disability:

1. Online

   • Adult (18 or over)

   • Children (under age of 18)

2. Calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778)

3. Visiting local social security offices.

References:

• Social Security Protection if you become disabled

• Online Social Security Handbook

• Resource page for people with disabilities

• Adult Disability Starter Kit

• Child Disability Starter Kit