| Types of Social Security Disability Benefits | | | | parents. In addition to the medical requirement that you |
| The Social Security Administration has established a | | | | have a physical or mental impairment which prevents |
| number of different types of disability programs. | | | | you from working at a "substantial" gainful level, and |
| Although the medical rules are similar under each | | | | the condition has existed or is expected to exist for at |
| program, the technical rules on eligibility set each | | | | least a 12 month period, you must also show that your |
| program apart. What program you may be eligible for | | | | condition has existed and has been disabling since |
| depends on a number of factors, including your work | | | | before your 22nd birth date. In addition, you must be |
| history, age, household income and marital status. You | | | | the adult child of a parent who is currently receiving |
| may be eligible for more than one type of benefits, but | | | | DIB benefits, or the Adult child of a parent who is |
| generally SSA will pay you the higher benefit amount | | | | deceased and was "insured" for purposes of eligibility |
| of any one program you may be entitled to. | | | | for DIB benefits. It is not necessary that the adult child |
| Disability Insurance Benefits: This program, also known | | | | ever worked because benefits are paid on the |
| as "DIB" or Title II benefits, awards benefits to | | | | parent's earnings record. The adult child must not have |
| individuals who, because of a physical or mental | | | | worked and earned "substantial earnings" for an |
| impairment, are unable to work at a "substantial" gainful | | | | extended period at any point after turning 22; however, |
| level, and their condition has existed or is expected to | | | | certain expenses the adult child incurs in order to work |
| exist for at least a 12 month period. By "substantial," | | | | may be excluded from these earnings. An adult child |
| SSA means the claimant would be unable to earn | | | | already receiving SSI benefits should check to see if |
| over $900.00 per month because of their disability. This | | | | benefits may be payable on a parent's earnings |
| dollar amount increases slightly every year. To be | | | | record. Higher benefits might be payable and |
| eligible for DIB, a claimant must have worked long | | | | entitlement to Medicare may be possible. |
| enough and paid enough into Social Security through | | | | Disabled Widow's/Widower's Benefits: If you are a |
| their FICA taxes to be "insured." As a general rule, if a | | | | disabled widow or widower age 50 or older you may |
| claimant worked at least five of the last 10 years, he | | | | be able to receive benefits off your spouse's (or |
| would be "insured" for purposes of DIB. How much a | | | | former spouse's) Social Security record. If you are a |
| claimant receives each month if found disabled and | | | | widow or widower from a spouse you were divorced |
| entitled to DIB is based on how much he "paid into" the | | | | from, to be eligible for benefits you need to have been |
| system during his working life. Generally, the longer | | | | married to your spouse for 10 years or longer and |
| someone has worked and the higher his earnings, the | | | | your disability must have started before age 60 and |
| more he would be paid if found disabled. Individuals | | | | within seven years of the date in which the worker |
| found disabled and entitled to DIB benefits may be | | | | died. If you were married to your spouse when they |
| awarded retroactive benefits. Retroactive benefits can | | | | passed away, Social Security does not require that |
| only go back one year from the date of the initial | | | | you were married for 10 years. In either case, you will |
| application. There is a five-month waiting period from | | | | need to provide proof of relationship in the form of |
| the date the claimant is determined to be disabled until | | | | your marriage certificate or divorce decree, along with |
| entitlement to DIB benefits begin. To illustrate this, if a | | | | your spouse's death certificate when you file for |
| claimant files a claim for DIB on January 1, 2006 alleging | | | | benefits. If you file a claim for Disabled Widows |
| disability as of February 2005, and SSA determines he | | | | Widower's benefits and DIB or SSI benefits, you will |
| is disabled and his disability began February 1, 2005, he | | | | receive only the higher monthly benefit amount of the |
| would be eligible for retroactive benefits starting in July | | | | two programs. |
| 2005. In addition to receiving individual DIB benefits, your | | | | Medical Insurance: Once you are found disabled and |
| minor children may also qualify for auxiliary benefits | | | | entitled to Social Security disability benefits, you will also |
| based on your disability. These benefits are granted in | | | | be eligible for medical insurance though Medicare or |
| addition to any benefit you receive. To ensure any | | | | Medicaid. If you filed a claim for DIB, Disabled Adult |
| minor children are awarded any benefits they may be | | | | Child or Disabled Widow's/Widower's benefits, you |
| entitled to, it is important you furnish the names and | | | | may be eligible for Medicare. However, eligibility for |
| Social Security numbers of any minor children you | | | | Medicare does not start until you have been disabled |
| have to SSA. The children do not have to live in the | | | | for 25 months. If you are approved for Social Security |
| same household to be eligible for auxiliary benefits. | | | | benefits under any of the above-listed programs, SSA |
| Supplemental Security Income: This program, also | | | | will contact you approximately two months before |
| known as SSI or Title 16 benefits, is a "needs-based" | | | | your eligibility for Medicare begins. If you have already |
| program in which individuals with little or no resources | | | | been disabled for 25 months, be sure to keep a record |
| or assets may receive disability benefits. The medical | | | | of all medical bills as you may be reimbursed by |
| criteria for SSI eligibility is the same as that used for | | | | Medicare for these expenses. There is no waiting |
| DIB - a physical or mental impairment which prevents | | | | period for Medicaid; however, your income and |
| you from working at a "substantial" gainful level, and | | | | resources must be very low to qualify. If you have |
| the condition has existed or is expected to exist for at | | | | applied for and have been approved for SSI you |
| least a 12 month period. Effective January 2007 the | | | | probably qualify for Medicaid. You may think that |
| SSI payment for an eligible individual is $623 per month | | | | Medicaid and Medicare are the same, but actually they |
| and $934 per month for an eligible couple. There is no | | | | are two different programs. Medicaid is a state-run |
| retroactive eligibility for SSI benefits: benefits can go | | | | program that provides hospital and medical coverage |
| back only to the month in which your claim was filed. | | | | for people with low income and little or no resources. |
| Unlike DIB, there is no five-month waiting period for | | | | Each state has its own rules about who is eligible and |
| entitlement to SSI, so your eligibility would begin the | | | | what is covered under Medicaid. Some people qualify |
| month in which you filed your claim or were | | | | for both Medicare and Medicaid. For more information |
| determined to be disabled, whichever is later. A claim | | | | about the Medicaid program, contact Social Security or |
| for SSI benefits can also be filed on behalf of any | | | | your local social services or welfare office. |
| minor children with a disability; however, as with Adult | | | | This article has been written to give you a general |
| SSI claims, to be entitled to SSI benefits the household | | | | overview of the Social Security disability programs and |
| income must be below certain limits. | | | | the disability process. As this article may not address |
| Disabled Adult Child: This program provides disability | | | | all questions you might have, please contact us for |
| benefits to adult children of deceased or disabled | | | | further information. |