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I recently came across a question that read as follows: "I need to file for disability benefits and I've been told I can do this through the social security office, but I'm confused. Am I filing for early social security retirement? Or is it SSI?" Well, the answer to the question is, "It depends." There are two disability programs that are administered by the social security administration. One is called SSI which stands for supplemental security income and the other is social security disability, also known by the initials SSD (obviously shorthand for social security disability), SSDI (social security disability insurance), DIB (disability insurance benefits), and RSDI (retirement, survivors, disability insurance). As you may have guessed from several of the acronyms, social security disability is considered a form of insurance. And, in fact, it operates just like insurance. How are you insured? Through payroll deductions as a result of earned income. Does that mean that if you quit working you are no longer insured? Yes and no. Your insured status (known as your DLI, or date last insured) will continue for quite some time after you stop paying into the system; however, at some time your coverage will lapse. What happens if your coverage for social security disability benefits lapses? In that event, you can still file for disability benefits under the SSI program. SSI is not an insurance program but, instead, is a needs-based program and the major differences between SSI and social security disability are as follows: 1. For SSI, if you are married, the income of your spouse will be counted to some extent in determining your eligibility. This is known as deeming. 
2. For SSI, since it is a needs-based program, there is an asset limit that you must stay under in order to remain eligible for disability benefits. This limit is currently set at $2000 and includes everything from money in savings accounts, cash value in insurance policies, the fair market value of vehicles other than the one you use for primary transportation, and the fair market value of real property other than your residence. SSI, of course, applies to minor children, adults who have not worked long enough to be covered for social security, and, as we have already stated, individuals whose insurance coverage for social security disability benefits has lapsed. However, despite the differences between the two disability programs (SSI and SSD), there is no difference in how disability applications are processed for the two programs. Disability Lawyer Help on disability Claims Free Case Evaluation |
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SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY SSI LAWYER ANSWERS TO YOUR SSDI & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 3 ANSWERS TO YOUR SSDI & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 4 |
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If you suffer from a medical disability such as hip, neck, back, or other joint problems, disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, rsi or repetetive stress injury, inflammatory bowel disease, congestive or chronic heart failure, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, high blood pressure (hypertension), seizure disorder, stroke, copd, emphysema, hearing loss or poor hearing, vision loss, clinical obesity, epilepsy, cancer, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, lupus, anxiety, inner ear problems, meniere's, vertigo or dizziness, kidney failure requiring dialysis or other renal problems, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or other liver disease, pancreatitis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, rsd or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, crohn's disease, sarcoidosis, peripheral vascular disease, lyme disease, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, hiv, aids, anemia, sickle cell, thyroid problems including hypothyroidism, cardiomyopathy, or tachycardia, arrhythmia and have initiated or been denied on a social security disability, or ssi, claim for benefits, this site may assist you with your case. Social Security Disability benefits are often difficult to win; however many claims for social security disability are lost simply because a claimant did not know enough about the disability process to their social security or ssi claim. For information re: representation on a social security disability or ssi claim (attorney or non attorney representative), see the "qurstions" & "how" pages. |
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