Types of Social Security Disability Benefits Available

SSD Benefits

SSD benefits are paid by Social Security based on Social Security taxes that were paid by the client while they were working. Mostly everyone knows, for example, that they will receive a certain amount of Social Security benefits when they become old enough to retire; SSD benefits are essentially "early retirement" benefits. SSD benefits are the same amount a person would receive when he or she became old enough to retire. [1]

Also, being found eligible for SSD benefits usually results in benefits being paid to “beneficiaries” (often children and/or mothers of children).

Finally, a client eligible for SSD will also be covered under Medicare beginning on the 25th month of their disability.

In addition to benefits paid to the disabled worker under SSD, there are two other types of benefits in this program:

Disabled Widows Benefits

Disabled Widows Benefits are paid to a widow or widower, 50 years or older, who has not remarried and who meets the definition of disability within seven years of the death of the spouse.

Child's Disability Benefits

Child's Disability Benefits are paid to the child of a wage earner who becomes totally disabled prior to his or her 22nd birthday. In those cases, benefits are paid to the client based on the payment made into Social Security by the “wage earner” (i.e., the parent).

SSI Benefits

SSI benefits are paid to disabled persons who do not qualify under the SSD program. SSI clients typically have worked sporadically, have not worked in a long time, or never worked, so they have not paid sufficient Social Security taxes to qualify for the SSD program.

In order to qualify for SSI, a client must be found "disabled" by the same definition of what it means to be “disabled” as an SSD claim, but must also show that he or she meets a "needs test" by virtue of low income. This test is similar to the one used to determine whether a person is entitled to Public Assistance.

Many people who qualify for SSI benefits are receiving Public Assistance and, in many cases, they have been urged by their caseworker to file the claim for SSI. Generally, SSI benefits total approximately $630 per month (in Pennsylvania) and SSI recipients usually continue to receive Food Stamps and retain their state Medical Assistance card.

[1] For instance, a client entitled to $800 a month when he or she retires, but who becomes disabled at age 52, would begin receiving $800 a month immediately. SSD benefits are generally higher than SSI benefits and, more importantly, are not subject to reduction if there are other sources of income.