If you, or someone you know, cannot work due to a physical or mental impairment, you may qualify for SSDI and or SSI benefits including a monthly check and medical benefits.
Social Security/Disability and Supplemental Security Income are the two programs the Social Security Administration has available to pay disability benefits.
What is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are benefits paid to disabled people and certain dependents who worked and paid into the Social Security Trust Fund via Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes.
What is Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
Supplemental Security Income is financial aid to disabled people who meet low-income guidelines regardless of their employment history.
SSDI or SSI benefits are available to disabled persons, who cannot do any work due to a medical condition that is expected to last at least a year or is terminal.
Disabled workers, who worked five of the last ten years, would apply for disability insurance benefits. Everyone else who meets certain financial criteria will apply for Supplemental Security benefits; a public assistance program based on need. If you are unable to work for at least 12 continuous months because of a physical or mental impairment, or if your impairment is terminal, you may qualify for disability benefits.
A disability application review consist of several steps which must be requested within certain time periods and in the following order:
Step 1 – Initial Application. Physicians will review medical evidence in your file to determine your disability.
Step 2 – Reconsideration. Your case will be reviewed and additional evidence may be submitted so the official reviewing your case and reconsider all of the evidence to determine disability.
Step 3 - Disability Hearing. A disability hearing provides you the opportunity to present your case to a judge who will consider t he medical evidence, opinion evidence and hear your reasons that your disability benefits should be granted.
Step 4 – Appeals Council. If you disagree with the judge’s decision, you can appeal to the Appeals Council.\
Stage 5 – Federal District Court. If you are denied again, and your case has merit, the next step is to file a case in Federal District Court.