Social Security Disability Lawyer
Types of SSD Benefits
Just as the qualifications and circumstances for receiving Social Security Disability (SSD) payments are various, the types of benefits are classified differently as well. The payment system is broken into five main categories, and the following information should provide a general understanding of the primary kinds of SSD benefits, as well as how they work for individuals who are unable to generate income due to a qualifying disabling condition.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
To be eligible for SSDI, the applicant must suffer from a qualifying condition that is anticipated to last at least one year. The individual must also have accumulated enough work credits (time spent generating income and paying taxes) to qualify for this type of benefit. For each quarter that an individual works and pays into the Social Security system, they accumulate one work credit. For this reason, those who have no employment history are usually not eligible for SSDI benefits.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Disabled individuals who do not have sufficient employment credits to be eligible for SSDI payments, and whose family income and resources are less than the Social Security Administration's (SSA) set standards, may be eligible for SSI. Similar to SSDI, SSI benefits are federally awarded, but the program is based on needs regardless of employment or taxpayer history. In some cases, the state may enhance SSI benefits with additional funds depending on the circumstances. Typically the highest SSI payment amount is $674 each month for qualifying individuals, or $1,011 every month for a qualifying couple. However, in some situations, the SSA will provide more than that amount, depending on whether or not your state supplements payments.
Disabled Widows and Widower's Benefits
To qualify for this benefit, a person must be at least 50 years of age and have become disabled during a defined period of time following their spouse's passing. The deceased spouse must also have accumulated a sufficient amount of work credits through employment and paying taxes. No income or resource limits are associated with this kind of benefit, and the amount of payments received is contingent on how much the spouse earned when they were alive.
Disabled Adult Child Benefits
When a child is disabled prior to 22 years of age and has not accumulated sufficient work credits to be eligible for SSDI, they may still be able to receive the benefits if their parents generated adequate work credits through Social Security. Like disabled widows and widower's benefits, there is not resource or income limitations with this category, and the amount of payments depends on earnings and taxpaying of the parents.
Children of Disabled Workers
When a taxpaying worker with sufficient work credits becomes disabled and starts receiving SSDI assistance, the children of that individual may also be eligible for payments via the Social Security system. Again, in this case, the amount of benefits is dependent on parental income and taxpaying history.
Social Security Benefits Attorneys
In some situations individuals may be eligible for more than one kind of SSD payment. To find out which benefits you may qualify for, contact the social security disability attorneys at Page Law for a free consultation on your SSI claim. Call (314) PAGE-LAW (724-3529) today.
